The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1916-01-05
AUSTRlA'S ANSWER
SUB OFFICER PUNISHED FOR DE-
STRUCTION OF ANCONA
ACCEDES TO u. S. DEMAD

Vienna Overlooks Gap in Evidence
Presented, Rules That Panic
Aboard Steamer Increased Respon-
sibility of Commander-Eubsc
to Humanity's Law.
Vienna reports that the following
note, dated December 29, in answer
to the American governments de-
mands concerning the sinking of the
Italian steamer Ancona by an Aus
trian submarine, has been delivered
to Frederick C. PenfelG, the Ameri-
can ambassador:
'In answer to your esteemed note,
No. 4307, of the 21st instant, the
subscriber has the honor to lay the
following most respectfully before
his excellencv, the an bassador of the
United States of America, Frederick
Courtland Penfield.
'The imperial and royal govern
ment agrees thoroughly with the
American cabinet that the sacred
commandments of humanity must be
observed also in war. Just as it has
hitherto given at no tine and to no
person occasion to doubt its respect
for these commandments, in like
manner also in the whole course of
this war, which presents such pic
lures of confusion Of moral concep-
tions, has it given numerous proofs
of humanitarian sentiments toward
enemies as we'll as toward neutral
states, and it was not due to this
government that it was, short time
ago, not in harmony with the Wash
ington government preciSely on a
question which it (the Austrc- Hun
garian government), in harmony
with the entire public opinion in
Austria-Hungary, regarded as pr:n-
cipally a question Of humanity.
Asto Private Ships.
"The imperial and royal govern
ment can also substantially concur
in the principle expressed in the very
esteemed note, that private ships, in
sofar as they do not flee or offer re-
sistance, may not be destroyed with
out the persons aboard being brought
into safety.
"The imperial and royal govern
ment is very responsive to the assur-
ance that the federal government
lays value upon seeing that the good
relations which happily exist between
Austria-Hungary and the United
States of America are maintained. 1t
reciprocates this assurance most
warmly, and is now, as heretofore,
concerned to render these relations
more hearty, so far as lies in its
power.
Guided by the same spirit OF
Frankness as the government of the
union, the imperial and royal gov
ernment, although it does not find in
the note frequently referred to the
answer to all the legitimate questions
submitted by it, is willing to COM
municate to the federal government
the result of the investigation which,
in accordance with existing depart
mental regulations, was begun in and
after the receipt of the fleet report
on the sinkinp of the Ancona and
which was just recently received.
Results of Investigation.
"The result of this investigation
may be summarized as follows:
ION November 7, 1915, at 11.4O
O'Clock in the forenoon, the COM
mander of the submarine observed in
latitude 3s40 north, longitude 1908
east, in foggy weather, at a distance
roundly 5000 meters and one point
to starboard, the outlines of a large
Italian steamer. He took it at first
for a transport steamer and turned
about and fred from his rear gun a
warning shot far from the vessel.
simultaneously he displayed the
signal, Leave the ship The steamer
did not stop, but rather turned aside
and sought to escape The command
er at first remained stopped for some
minutes in ord to increase the dis
tance, since he feared that the steam
er had a stern gun and would fire at
the submarine with it. When the
distance had reached 4,500 meters
he had the pursuit taken up with full
power and fired from his forward
gun at a decreasing distance sixteen
Shells, among which he observed
three hits.
Stopped after Third Hit.
During the chase the steamer
went zigzag and stopped only after
the third hit. Thereupon the COM
mander ceased firing.
f1iohf tho ct NOR had
already. while at full speed, let some
boats with persons in them fall,
which Immediately capsized. After
stopping, the steamer began launch
ing boats.
From a distance of about 1000
meters the commander saw that six
boats were filed and rowed hastily
away from the steamer. Another
boat was capsiZed and floated keel
up. The people held onto the hang
ing lines and to the capsized boat.
, During the further approach OF
the submarine the commander saw
that a great panic reigned aboard
and that he had to deal with pas
senger steamer, namely, the Ancona,
from Genoa. Therefore he gave the
occupants of the steamer more time
than was required to leave the ship
n lifeboats.
"At least ten lifeboats were still
aboard, which would have more than
sufficed for the rescue of the per-
sons still aboard. One of these boats
hung, full of people, half turned out
ward on the davits.
No Further Move Toward Boats.
Since, however, except for this,
no further move was made to lower
boats, the commander decided after
a lapse of forty-fve minutes to tor
pedo the ship in such a manner that
it would remain a considerable time
afloat. in order that on the one hand
the getting of the people into the
lifeboats should be fastened, and
that on the other adequate oppor-
tunity should remain for rescuing
the persons still aboard. Not until
1.2O o'clock did It sink, after a
parallel setting, with the bow first.
During these further forty-fve
minutes, all persons yet aboard
could have been saved without diff
fculty with the boats still on hand.