Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-12-16
ADMIRAL. 7 Y.
OF AUS STRIA
LAUDS AC 7

vienna, Dee. If (by courier to
Berlin, via London, Dec. 10,
1885 y. mD-Thc AustrO- Hungarian
admiralty is entirely opposed to any
disaVowal of the course Of the sub
marine commander who was rcspOn-
sibls for the sinking of the Italian
steamer AnCona. ON the contrary, it
approves his conduct fully, ana de
Clarcd that he would have been con-
sidcrcd aS having failed TO perform
his duty if Inc had allowed the An
coma to escape.
The reply to TIT American note, il
is understood will he delivered soon,
possibly Wednesday. The COITc-
spOndCnt of the Associated Press has
not been able to secure forecast
of the terms of the reply hut all in
dicatiUns are that pCs-imistic view
of the situation is justified
The admiralty today stated its case
and the attitude Of the naval autho-i-
ties aN follows;
Sub Commander Reports.
"It Is submarine commanders
duty to make a report to a designated
base rs soon aS possible and the COM
mandCr who sunk the AncOna did
this as soon ~ he was within wire
less distance of land. He made Il
supplementary report at POla and aC-
COmpaniCd il with his log. No exam
matiOn of the crew was held because
the commanders report was COn~.d-
cred complete and there was no rca-
son to suppose that the crew could
add anything thereto.
$50 far a. the commander is con-
CCTnCl his course is clear. The ad-
miraIty has received his .cport and
secs no reason To find any fault with
his course of action
"If any such reason existed that Is,
II the admiralty had found that the
commander had done anything con-
traTy TO its Instructions, IL would
spontaneously institute an inVCstiga-
ton against him without waiting for
any demand to come from foreign
governments. II can happen that a
commander i'm heat of battle deals
contrary to instructions, hut nothing
of the kind has occurred in this case.
"Was In Double Danger"
cit appears clearly from his report
that his ship was in Hanger, indeed
iu double danger first from the fact
that an enemy boat was approaching
On line that threatened to Cut off
his retreat and the enemy SE;p ana
the AnCuna could have established
lii, radius ON action and could haN"
set torpedo boat flotilla on him aud
second. there was danger of the
Ancona escaping, which. according TO
his instructions was To DC prCNCuiCd in
an circumstances. Hence thC conduct
of the commander. much aN the loss
Of innocent lives must be rCgiCti'L
and dCnlorcd. cannot h. Ci-GDprnNCd.
con the contrary. il he had depart
ed without destroying the AnCnna II
would have been failure 10 do his
duty. since the AnCOna could have
notified other ships of his where
abouts. The loss Of american lives
is rcgrcitnblC a. well a. that hmrri-
cans used vessel belonging to ma
tion at war with Austria Hungary
Wont Disavow Net"
\ naval writer and expert said to
the Associated Press epondCnt,
i'm discussion on the demands of the
American note:
"It should he remembered that
Nustria's flcct Is her fayOritc child.
Its honor and prestige are treasured
To the highest degree. The govern
mcnt might possibly Yield points in a
matter of affecting the army. hut dis
avoWaI of an act of an Austrian naval
CfGiCCr is hardly thinkahlc in any nut
abnormal circumstances. ! am Ger
tain that Ii would have 10 he very
extreme case. indeed. which could JUS
tify in the eyes of all AuStrians any
humiliation of u naval OFFICER at the
bchCst of foreign power