New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-14
Survivor Describes
Attempt to Signal
Submarine.
PAGE RECEIVES
ITALIAN REPORT
Only Two u. S. Citizens
Now Missing--Rescued
Tell Experiences.
LIFEBOATS SHELLED
DR.. Greil Verifies Captains Re.
port of Attack on Surviv-
OrS in Water.
[By Cable to The Tribune. !

Try Cable to The Tribunel
Rome, Nov. 13.-How an Ameri-
can gave his life in an effort to save
the Ancona, with her burden OF
helpless women and children, when
tie Italian liner was being shelled
by an Austrian submarine was re.
lated here tonight by Giovanni
Martini, of Reggie, Calabria, one
Of the survivors of the disaster.
Martins account, in the absence
Of any word from Vienna or Ber.
lin, where no report on the sinking
has yet been made, goes far toward
substantiating the statement OF the
captain that the Ancona was at.
tackled without warning and that
practically no opportunity was given
for saving the passengers.
When the first shell struck the
Ancona, said Martini, an American,
Pasquale Laurino, jumped to the
rail and by waving an American
flag sought to attract the attention
of the submarine commander and
thus prevent the shelling Of the
ship.
Used u. s. Flag as Signal.
II shall nsver forget the courage
, O, Laurino," declared Martini, "as
he mounted the deck railing. Stand
ing upright, he waved large Amer
lean flag in a desperate effort to
save the ship by showing that there
were Americans on board. l don't
know what became of him. | think
he was killed, as he disappeared
suddenly"
The first intimation the passen.
gers had that the ship was being
shelled, Martini said, was sound
like a clap of thunder that put .
sudden halt to the music of the or.
chestra. Then another sound was
heard, far-off whining sound, fol-
lowed by ripping noise and wcm-
ans scream.
AT once everybody seemed to un.
derstand what was happening" said
Martini, "and then pandemonium
broke loose"
Aside from Pssqusle Laurino, the
Ia:s oi several other native and natur.
allied Americans is still in doubt, &C.
eording 20 the report of the Italian
Foreign ofiee TO Ambassador Page to.
day. Giuseppe Torrisi wss rescued.
bu, his wife. who was Of the Patative
family. Of New York, is still missing.
Ambassador Page Gets Report.
Thomas Nelson Page, American Ans
bssssdor 20 Italy, has received a rec
pert from the British vice-consul az
runis regarding the sinking Of the Itals
ian liner Ancona. II is stated in the
report that the only American born
person who sailed on the Ancona was
DR.. Cecile L. Greil. who is in Tunis.
Ambassador Page, during his call 81
the Foreign Office. was also advised OK
the torpedoing of the liner Firenss
before the official announcement was
made public. This incident. following
closely on the Aneona. has increased
Official and public indignation to 40
intense degree.
The most graphic account of the
Ancona's sinking, and the first detailed
story by an eyewitness is that of DR..
Cecile L. Greil, a New York woman.
who was returning from Italy where
she had been organizing volunteer
nurse and relief corps for the Russian
Red Cross at Bari.
Only through her ability as a gym.
mast did DR.. Greil escape the fate that
overlook most Of the women on the
Ancona. She tried vainly to find q
place in the boats, but there was no
room. Finally she saved herself BY
dropping from the deck into launch.
which had already been lowered to the
water.
DR.. Greils story indicates that the
torpedo which sent the Ancona TO the
bottom was not fred until the steamer
had been riddled By shots from the
guns OF the submarine.
Eyewitness Story Of Attack.
~ was in the dining room Of the first
class passengers" DR.. Greil Is quoted
as saying, chatting with some Of the
vcyagers when we heard he report
Of cannon. There was great excites
ment on deck and men were running
tere and there. I asked the ships docs
tor what was happening. and he roe
piled that he didn't know. Then went
on deck myself.
81 saw through a slight fox . SUBJ
marine about q hundred yards distanA
II was equipped with two cannon. for.
ward and aft, which were being hreo
rapidly. went down to my cabin to
get my papers. and there found my
maid who pleaded with me to save hen
A cannon shot interrupted our eons