The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-12-10
Austria Must DisaUo1D
Sinking of the Ancona

a standstill and before the torpedo
which sank her was launched. The
Austro-Hungarian embassy here had
not been advised tonight that the in
quiry had been answered and it was
said that the Italian ambassador, who
has transmitted mucn information
upon the sinking of the Ancona, had
not furnished the United States with
anything additional.
The Ancona was sunk in the Medi-
terranean sea on November 8, while
bound from Naples for New York
The only testimony of native Ameri-
can survivor of the liner before the
department is deposition by DR.. Ce-
cile Greil of New York In her depo-
sition DR.. Greil asserts 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 department had
been inclined not to accept this single
statement as positive proof unless cor
roboration was received from some
source.
OF Much Importance.
Much weight was given, however,
to what DR.. Griel had to say. Her
testimony was considered of so much
importance that she was taken to
Rome, where she told her story to
Ambassador Page. A report OF the
conversation reached the state depart
ment recently.
After the inquiry of the United States
mad been before the Vienna foreign
Office several days Ambassador Pen
field reported that more time was de-
siled in which to frame reply Last
week Secretary Lansing instructed the
ambassador TO urge prompt reply.
The American note, it is understood,
sets forth that the United States can
not believe that the commanders Of
Austrian submarines have committed
acts of lawlessness except under mis-
apprehension of orders issued by the
naval authorities. 1t is declared that
under methods Of warfare such as
these employed in the sinking Of the
Ancona it is practically impossible,
lnder such circumstances, to remain
within the rules of fairness, justice
and humanity.
The principles of humanity and jus
tice which were championed in notes
to Germany are understood also to be
brought strongly to the attention OF
the Austro-Hungarian government in
this communication. Warning before
submarine attacks is insisted upon.
While every opportunity is said to
be left an amicable reply, the belief
prevails an usually we'll informed off,
cial circles that the communication is
more vigorous than any dispatched to
Germany while the controversy with
tnat country over the conduct of sub
marine warfare was in progress. No
;ntimation could be obtained tonight
as to whether the United States had
determined whether any "misinforma-
zion" appeared in the statements Of the
which nave been issued by
the Austrian admiralty. The Austrian
contention was that warning shot
was fired, that the ship tried to escape
and that she finally came to a stop
after being hit several times, that 30
was given in which the pas
sengers might take to the boats. At
the end of that period, it was claimed,
another vessel approached and the sub
marine submerged and torpedoed the
Ancona, which sank at the end of an
other period of 45 minutes. 1t was de-
MED than any lifeboats were fired at,
but it was said that some of the loss
of life was caused by the failure OF
the commander of the Ancona to &C:
promptly.
The Italian statement On the SUBJ
ject alleged that no warning was given
before the submarine started shelling
the ship, which Immediately came to
a stop, and that shells were exploded
on the decks of thte vessel and in the
lifeboats, killing and wounding many
passengers.
Just how many American lives were
lost on the .Ancona never has been
definitely established. 1t is known that
several naturalized citizens were lost.
Reports on this point, however, have