Evening star., 1916-01-01
TEXT OF THE AUSTRIAN REPL Y

VIENNA. Decembe 31.-The following
note dated December 90. in answer to
the American governments demand
concerning the sinking of the Italian
steamer Ancona by an Austrian sub
marine. has been delivered to Frederick
C. Penfeld. the American ambassador:
"In answer to your very esteemed
note No 43O1, of the 21st instant, the
subscriber has the honor to lay the fol-
lowing most respectfully before his ex-
cellency the ambassador of the United
F States of America, Frederick Courtland
Penfield:
.The imperial and royal government
agrees thoroughly with the American
cabinet that the sacred commandments
e., of humanity must be observed also IN
war. just as it has hitherto given at
no time 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 pictures
of confusion of moral conceptions, has
: 1t given numerous proofs of humanl-
tartan sentiments toward enemies as
wen as toward neutral states. ana ~
was not due to this government that IL
was. short time ago. not IN harmony
with the Washington cabinet precisely
on a question which II tthe Austro-
q. Hungarian government, in harmony
with the entire public opinion in Aus
. tria Hungary. regarded as principally
question of humanity.
Would Preserve Friendship.
~ "The imperial and royal government
can also substantially concur in the
principle expressed in the very esteem
ed note that private ships. in so far as
they do not fee or offer resistance,
tmay not he destroyed without the per-
sons aboard being brought into safety
c 1.-The imperial and royal government
. rs very responsive to the assurance
+ that the federal government lays value
Aupon seeing that the good relations
which happily exist between Austria
. Hungary and the United states of
America are maintained. 1t recipro-
Gates this assurance most warmly, and
is now. as heretofore. concerned TO
r render these relations more hearty, so
hfar as lies in its power.
! Guided by the same spirit OF frank
\ ness as the government Of tho Union,
Mthe imperial and royal government. al
/; though it does not find in the note
rfreuueutly referred to the answer '" All
11egitimate questions submitted by Is
willing TO communicate to the fco Al
government the result of the tnNestiSa-
..tion which. in accordance with existing
u departmental regulations. was begun
. Immediately after the receipt of the
feet report on the sinking of the An
. coma and which has been just recently
= received.
! What Vienna's Inquiry Showed.
:; The result of this investigation may
< be summarized as follows:
+ "On November :. 1915. at ll:40 O'Clock
Elm the afternoon, the commander of the
/. submarine observed. in latitude $40
= north longitude zoos east. in foggy
4 weather. at a distance roundly 1900
meters and one point to starboard. the
noutlines of large Italian steamer.
fHe took it at first for transport
steamer and turned about and hred
ffrom his rear gun warning shot far
From the vessel.
simultaneously he displayed the sig
nal Leave the ship The steamer did
not stop. but. rather, turned aside and
Sought to escape. The commander at
frst remained stopped for some min
utes in order to increase the distance,
since he feared that the steamer had
a stern gun and would fire at the sub
marine with it.
meters he had the pursuit taken up
with full power and fired from his for
ward gun at a decrea sing distance six
Teen smells, among which he observed
three hits.
7-Durine the chase the steamer went
zigzag and stopped only after the
third hit Thereupon the commander
ceased firing.
Boats Dropped During Flight.
..During the flight the steamer had
already, while at full speed, let some
boats with persons in them fall. which