Evening star., 1915-11-18
Sole American Survivor SO
States in Affidavit to
U. S. Consul.
MRS. GRElL'S TESTIMONY
is THOUGHT CONCLUSIVE
State Department Now Is Convinced
That the Attacking Submarine
Was an Austrian.


tive American survivor Of the
Italian liner Ancona, directly
contradicts the Austro-Hungarian
governments official statement
that the ship was not shelled by
the attacking submarine after she
stopped. The State Department
today was notified of the exist
ence of the affidavit by consular
dispatches.
The text of the message which was
sent by American Consul Mason of AL
giers follows:
"Cecille Grelle tGreiD intelligent, inn
partial witness. deposition not con-
elusive as to whether any effort was
made to escape by Ancona. First in
| timation danger when she was in
dining saloon. Disturbance on deck,
stoppage, or blowing of whistle. fol-
lowed shortly by shots which struck
vessel.
| Was Shelled Forty-Five Minutes.
Testimony preusse tprobably means
proves) that bombardment lasted
forty-five minutes and was continued
after vessel had stopped. killing and
wounding many persons She saw de,
struction vessel by torpedo; saw req
and white flag and six cannon on SUD
marine Knows nothing as to other
| Americans Information Algiers and
Bizerta considered to deWonstrate con-
clusively that thirteen vessels were
| sunk from Sd to 7th November by SUP,
~ 1%s.,~ thu RI
| marines. going from Gioraitar to"ar"
Ancona."
Secretary Lansing will take no action.
however, until information of more
definite character regarding the more
essential details is received Such IN
| formation is expected by cable from
American consuls and possibly from
| the French government, which Is un-
derstood to be taking dispositions on
/ its own account. "a 5,ti t
Considers Evidence Conclusive.
The state Department considers that
Mrs. Greil's charge that the submarine
fired on the Ancona after the ship
stopped may be taken as conclusive
evidence Whether warning was given
Lansing considers that the evidence on
| the feature is inconclustve. 1t was
pointed out today that because Mrs
Greil was the only native American
| survivor of the disaster much weight
would attach to her statement.
| Consul Mason will attempt to get
more affidayits from citizens of other
| nationalities, preferably from neu-
| trails.
| Secretary Lansing is of the opinion
i that the right of visit and search can
| be carried out by q submarine without
actually placing sailors upon the deck
of an intercepted ship and Is measure
| to prove the nationality of a ves-
MI ant
| the early days of the war has demon
strated that a submarine can deter
mine the nationality of vessel with
out actually placing members OF its
crew aboard.
Was Austrian Submarine.
Mrs Greirs statement of the color of
the flag flown by the submarine was
taken by officials of the State Depart
ment as being conclusive evidence that
| the submersible was flying the naval
| flag of Austria Hungary, which at even
short distance shows only red and
white, although actually has small
Germany at short distance show 5
! only black and white, although it
actually has small portion OF red.
The Austrian flag at distance looks
| as if it were composed solely of two
red horizontal stripes at the top and
lower border, with white stripe be-
tween them. The German flag resem-
bles a black cross set vertically on a
| white field.
| The United States probably will make
no diplomatic inquiry of Austria-Hun-
gary as to it's attitude toward the con-
| duet of submarine warfare as a result
of the sinking of the Italian liner An.
coma pending the deceipt Of additional
| information concerning the attack from
the foreign office at Vienna through
Ambassador Penfield.
Based on Vienna Statement.
| Sufficient information for an inquiry.
State Department officials believe, how
ever, is furnished by the Austrian. for
eign office statement concerning the
tragedy which was cabled to the de-
partment yesterday ny Amoassador
tally is the same as the Austrian ad-
miralty statement already received by
Secretary Lansing, and was presented
to the ambassador by the ioreisn once
ca bleeram directing him to obtain de-
The text OF the communication from
the Vienna foreign office. as given out
"submarine fired warning shot across
how of steamer. whereupon latter fled
Mt full speed. She thus carried out in
structions of1ciaiy gwen an Haian u. n,
I n
temDt escape upon being held up by
submarines or to ram, according to
position of latter.
Puts Blame on Crew.
Escaping steamer pursued and fred
on by submarine. but did not stop un-
til receiving several hits. Forty-ave
minutes given passengers and crew to
leave ship, on which greatest panic
resigned. Only a portion of bots lower.
ed, which were occupied by membars
ship's crew, who pulled hurriediy away,
Great portion of boats which would ap-
narentiy have sufficed for rescue all
hands not occupied.
AFTER about fifty minutes submarine
submerged on account rapidly ap-
preaching vessel. torpsdoed Anoonu,
which did not sink until further lapse
of~forty-fve minutes. IT many pas.
sengers lost lives. blame rests entirely
With crew because instead of stoppinsr
mnon warning shot fed and compelled
snhmarine to fire and because crew
endeayored to save only themselves
and not passengers, for which there
Was ample time and means.
"Story that subma rine fired upon
loaded boats and people In water Ia
malicious fabrication, for reason am.
munttioa much too valuable for sub
marine If for no other, No further
shet fred after vessel stopped e '-----