The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-01-04
PaLliates Action
But Admits Fault
Austrian Reply Denies Many of Charges of Ahun'any in
Sinking of Ancona, but Expresses Willingness to Pay
Indemnify and Announces Punishment of Commander

aboard, which would have more than
sufficed for the rescue Of the persons
still aboard. One of these boats hung,
full of people, half turned outward on
the davits.
Since, however, except for this, no
further move was made to lower boats,
the commander decided after lapse
of 45 minutes, to torpedo the ship in
such a manner that it would remain
a considerable time afoat in order that
on the one hand ne getting of the
people into the lifeboats should be
hastened, and that, on the other, an
opportunity should remain for rescu-
ing persons still aboard. Not until 1:20
o'clock did it sink, after lengthy par
allel settling, with the bow first.
Blames the Crew.
During these further As minutes ali
persons yet aboard could have been
saved without difficulty with the boats
still on hand.
From the fact that this, contrary
to his expectations, was not done, the
commander concluded that the crew,
contrary to all seamen's customs, had
accomplished their own rescue with
the first boats and abandoned to them
selves the passengers entrusted to
their protection.
'tThe weather at the time of the in
cident was food and the sea calm, so
that the lifeboats would have reached
the nearest coast without danger, as
indeed the lifeboats actually were dam
, aged only by the unskilled lowering,
but not after they mad struck the
water.
"The loss of human lives is in the
first instance by no means ascribable
to the sinking of the ship, but, and
in all probability in much higher
measure, to the rapid lowering Chin
unterwerfen) of the boats during full
speed, as we'll as to the fact tnat the
crew, concerned only for itself, did not
rescue the passengers of the capsized
boats.
"It is also probably ascribable to
shots which hit the fleeing vessel, but
the death of persons who sank with
the steamer is also, above all, ascrib-
able to the disloyal conduct of the
crew.
Denies Some Charges.
Gas appears from the above adduced
state of affairs, the very esteemed note
of December 9 is based in many
points on incorrect premises. Infor-
nation reaching the United States
government that solid shot was i'm
mediately fired towards the steamer is
incorrect; it is incorrect that the sub
marine overhauled the steamer during
the chase; it is incorrect that only a
brief period was given for getting the
people into the boats.
"On the contrary, an unusually long
period was granted to the Ancona for
getting the people into the boats.
"On the contrary, an unusually long
period was granted to the Ancona for
getting passengers in the boats.
FINALLY, it is incorrect that. a num-
Der of shells were fired at the steamer
after it had stopped.
''Tne facts of the case demonstrate
further that the commander of the
submarine granted the steamer a full
As minutes time, that is more than an
adequate time to give the persons
aboard an opportunity to take to the
boats. Then, since the people were
not all saved, he carried out the tor
pedoing in such a manner tnat the ship
could remain above water the longes!
possible time, doing this with the pur-
pose of making possible the abandon
ment of the vessel on boats still in
hand.
Since the ship remained a further
As minutes above water, he would have
accomplished mis- purpose if the crew
of the Ancona had not abandoned the
passengers in a manner contrary to
duty.
Made a Mistake.
with full consideration, however,
of this conduct of the commander,
aimed at accomplishing the rescue OF
the crew and passengers, the imperial
and royal marine authorities reached
the conclusion that he had omitted to
take adequately into consideration the
panic which had broken out among
the passengers, which rendered diff
fcult the taking to the boats, and the
spirit of the regulation that imperial