Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-01-01

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 franw-
ness as the government of the United
States, the Imperial and Royal govern
ment, although II does not find in the
note frequently referred to the answer to
all the legitimate questions submitted by
it, is willing to communicate to the fed
eral government the result of the inves-
LEGATIONS, which. in accordance with ex-
listing departmental regulations, was be-
gun Immediately after the receipt of the
fleet report on the sinking of the Ancona
and which was just recently received.
The investigation
THE result of this investigation may
be summarized as follows:
ION Nov. Z, 1915, at 11.40 o'clock in
the forenoon the commander of the
submarine observed in attitude SS.40
north. Longitude 1905 east, in foggy-
weather at a distance roundly 5000
metres and one point to starboard, the
outlines of a large Italian steamer. He
took 1t at first for q transport steamer
and turned about and fired from his
rear gun 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 commander
at first remained stopped for some
minutes in order to increase the dis
lance, since he feared that the steam
fire a
the submarine with 1t.
When the distance had reached 4500
metres he had the pursuit taken up
with full power and fired from his for
ward gun at a decreasing distance, 1t
shells, among which he observed three
hits.
During the chase the steamer went
zig gag, and stopped only after the
third hit Thereupon the commander
ceased firing.
During the flight the steamer had
already, while at full speed, let some
boats with passengers in them fall,
which Immediately capsized. After
stopping the steamer began launching
boats.
From distance of about 200 metres
the commander saw that SIX boats
were filled and rowc3 hastily away
! from the steamer Another boat was
capsized and fioated keel up. The peo-
| pie held onto the hanging 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 a passenger steam
er, namely, the Ancona, from Genoa.
| Therefore. he gave the occupants OF
the steamer more time than was re-
quired to leave the ship in lifeboats-
AT least 10 lifeboats were still
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 10 lower boats,
the commander decided after lapse OF
a, minutes to torpedo the ship in such
a manner that il should remain con-
siderable time afioat. in order that, on
the other hand the getting OF the peo-
ple into the lifeboats should be hasten
ed. and that on the other adequate OPP
portunity should remain for rescuins
the persons still aboard.
! shortly thereafter steamer ne
came visible which was throwing OUT
heavy clouds of smoke and headed TO-
! ward the Ancona. 1t apparently had
been summoned by the Anconas WIRE
! less.
! "Since the submarine commander
had to reckon on an attack by 'he
I steamer which he took for an enemy
! cruiser. he submerged, after having al
/ a. o'clock in the afternoon had a
torpedo fired into the forward baggage
hold IF the Ancona from distance OF
| 500 metres. The -Ancona listed about
I 10 degrees 10 starboard after TINS shol
! "Thereupon an effort was mace &c
lower the lifcboat which already was
I MALT turned out on the daVits 1t broke
/ loose, however. and fell into the wa
ter The lifeboat fioat>f keel down lar
/ Their and the people held fast TO the
gunwale.
I .-Of the other boats none was low
! cred into TIE water, although persons
/ could still be observed aboard. Inc
! steamer gradually righted itself to ar
\ even keel and settled so slowly that
The submarine commander at first
doubted whether the steamer would
sink. Not until leo did il sink after a
lengthy parallel settling with the bow
| first.
During these further a. minutes al
persons vet aboard could have been
saved without difficulty with the boats
( still Oil hand.
From the fact that this, contrary &c
/ his expectations. was not done, the
| commander concluded that the crew,
! contrary to all seamen's customs, hao
accomplished their own rescue with
the first boats and abandoned tc
themselves the passengers entrusted
to their protection.
THE weather at the time of the in
cident was good and the sea calm. So
that the lifehoats could have reached
the nearest coast without danger. as
| indeed, the lifebaots actually were
damaged only by the unskilled low
ering, but not after they had 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 ir
all proba bility. in much higher meas
ure to the rapid lowering (HinunteI