The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-12-09
u. s. ASKS
tcOstinu.d Prom FIRST r.rs.,


tlon would be sent to Vienna. Tonight
II was suggested in SONG quarters that
information of a most conclusive ma
ture had come to Secretary Lansing
probably late Monday night, and that
II had been decided then that the pro-
test should 20 forward Immediately.
Whether Ambassador Penfeld mad
transmitted the reply of the Vienna
foreign Office to the list OF queries
submitted by the United States could
not be ascertained.
The belief prevails however. mat
the state department had received
answers to OF some sort to the queries.
In the queries Austria Hungary was
asked among other things whether a
warning shot had been fired before
the ship was shelled. whether time
was given the passengers to get a
place or safety and whether any shots
were dred at the ship after she had
come to standstill and before the
tropedo that sank her was launched.
Inc Austro-Hungarian embassy mere
mad not been advised tonight that the
inquiry had been answered and IL was
said the italian ambassador who has
transmitted much information upon
the sinking OF the Ancona. had not
furnished the United States with any
thing additional.
Testimony Carried WeIaht.
The AnconR was sunk in the Medit.
erranean sea on November 9. while
bound from Naples for New York. The
only testimony OF a native American
survivor OF the liner before the de-
partment is in a deposition by DR..
Cecile Griel of New York In her de-
position DR.. Greil asserted specifically
that the liner was torpedoed while the
men, women and children in the
cabin and steerage were scrambling
TO get into the small boats. The de.
partment has been inclined not to &C.
cept this single statement as positive
proof unless confederation was re-
ceived from some source.
Much weight was given, however. To
what DIR. Greil had to say. Her testi.
mony was considered OF so much i'm.
portance that she was taken TO Rome.
where she told her story to Amhassa
dor Page. A report of this converse.
ton reached the state department re.
Gently
After the inquiry Of the United
States had been before the Vienna for
eign office several days Ambassador
Penheld reported that more time was
desired in which to frame a reply.
Late last week Secretary Lansing in
structed the ambassador to urge a
prompt reply.
The American note. il Is under.
STOOD, sets forth that the United
states cannot believe that the CON-
manders OF Austrian submarines have
committed an alleged act OF lawIess-
ness except under misrepresentation
OF orders issued by the Austrian
naval authorities II is declared that
under methods OF warfare such as
those employed in the sinking OF the
Ancona II practically is impossible
under such circumstances. TO remain
within the rules Of fairness. Justice
and humanity
Warning Insisted Upon.
The principles OF humanity and us.
uce which were championed in notes
10 Germany are understood TO be
called strongly TO the attention of the
Austro-Hungarian government in this
communication. Warning before a
submarine attacks is insisted upon.
While every opportunity IL said TO be-
lett Tor an amicable reply. the belief
prevails In usually well Informed Of.
fetal circles that the communication
Is more vigorous than any dispatched
10 Germany while the controvers,
with that country over the counduct
OF submarine warfare was in progress
NO intimation could be obtained to-
night as TO whether the United States
had determined whether any "misln-
FORMATION" appeared In the statements
OF the occurrence which have been
issued by the Austrian admiralty. The
Austrian contention was that a warn.
ing shot was fired. that the ship tried
10 escape. and that when she finally
came 10 stop after being hr several
ilmes. hiiy minutes was given m
which the passengers might have
taken 10 the boats At the end OF
mat period 10 was claimed another
vessel approached and the submarir.
submerged and torpedoed the Acona
which sank az the end Of another Der.
iod Of Or minutes. % was denied that
NY lfcboats were fired at. but % was
said That some of the loss Of Hfs
caused hy failure Of the commander
or the Anc0na to act promptly
No Warning Given.
lh' Italian statement ON the subject
ALLEGED tnaf mo- warning was given 49,
tore iho submarine started Smelling
the ship. which immediately came To-
o. stop and that shells we're exploded
on ih" decks Of tho vessel and in tho
hi"ho1ir. killing and wouuding many
passenger
JUST how many American lives we're
Int' ON thn Ancou1 never has been do. I
hnItoly established o. be- known That
several natuulized citizens we're iost
N'poris ON thIs point however. nave
been fo conflicting that tho state de-
r1rWruf never has been able 10 com &
pile an accurate IIrt
Ihn text of The American note. 90 Z
"a. 'aid ton.rht viii boz given ont Tor
UrrH||H.n fHUH. |f. H.uHu.ra