Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-31
AUSTRIA BACKS DOWN IN REPLY
TO UNITED STATES DEMANDS
Continued from Page One

Continued from Page One
fred 16 shells at the steamer, of which
three were observed to hit The steamer
only stopped after the third hit. where
upon the commander ceased firing.
Already during the flight, it is declared,
and when at full speed, the steamer had
dropped several boats filled with people,
which Mt once capsized After the
steamer stopped, the commander of the
submarine observed that six boats were
fully manned and that they speedily
rowed away from the steamer
Approaching nearer, the commander of
the submarine saw that great panic
prevailed aboard tte steamer aid that he
had before him the passenger vessel An
coma, On account OF which he gave those
aboard more time than was necessary to
leave the vessel i'm lifehoats. At least ten
lifeboats were still aboard, which would
have been more than sufficient to rescue
the persons still or the vessel, but as no
other prepara tions were made to hoist
out the boats. the commander decided,
after the expiration of 10 minutes, to
torpedo TIE vessel in such Il manner that
IL ought to remain afloat for still
longer time in order to leave sufficient
opportunity for the people still aboard to
be rescued.
Shortly afterward n steamer became
visible. which steamed toward the sub
marine. AS the commander of the sub
marine, who believed the steamer to be
an enemy cruiser, had to reckon with an
attack, he submerged at l2:35, hrlnS Il
torpedo into the foremost cargo hold OF
the Ancona. No more boats aboard tho
vessel were lowered. although persons
were still visible aboard.
The steamer sank 80 slowly that the
submarine commander at first doubted
whether the steamer would sing. only at
120 o'clock did 1t sink, bow first.
CREW BLAMED FOR LOSS OF LIFE.
During these further IS minutes, it is
averred, all the persons aboard could
have easily been saved with The avail
able boats From the circumstane that
this did not occur, the commander CON
cluded that the crew, contrary to all rules
of the seas, accomplished their own res
cue in the first boats ard left the pas
sengcrs 20 themselves.
The entire loss of life, the note sets
forth cannot he attributable in the first
instance to the sinking of the vessel, Dut
in some degree TO the dropping OF the
first boats while the steamer was pro-
cceding at full speed and to the fact that
the crew only tl.ought of their own safety
and did not rescue the passengers from
the capsized boats, though also to the
shells which hit the fleeing vessel.
But the death of the persons drowned
with the sinking vessel must. above all,
be ascrbed to the culpable behavior of
the crew.
The Austrian reply then states that the
American note in several points Is based
on Incorrect suppCsitions, and describes
as incorrect statements that n shell was
at once fired, that the submarine, on pur-
suit overlook the steamer, that only
shcrt time was allowed for those aboard
to enter the boats and that several shots
were fired on the steamer even after II
had stopped.
The commander of the submarine, the
note repeats, allowed the steamer more
time than was necessary for the passen-
gers to take to the boats and then tor
pedoed the vessel in such a manner that |
It would remain afloat as long as possible |
10 enable the passengers to disembark-
IAN object which would have been at
tanned II the passengers had not been for |
5aken by the crew."
Fully appreciatinG the attitude of the |
who had in view the rescue |
of the passengers and crew." says the |
note. "the Austro-Hungarian naval au-
thorities have arrived at the conclusion |
that he apparently neglected to take suf- |
iciently Into consideration the panic |
among the passengers, which rendered |
more difficult. and the |
spirit of the regulations that Austro- |
naval officers should refuse |
assistance TO no one In distress, even an |
enemy. The officer was, therefore. pun !
shed for violating the instructions en-
bodied in the rules in force for such |
cases"
THE Austro-Hungarian Government /
must suppose that the Washington Cabl- /
let is able and willing TO communicate to |
he Austro- Hungarian Cabinet the neces- |
ary information referring thereto But |