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

ing in such manner that the ship
could remain above water the longest
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 his purpose if the crew
of the Ancona had not abandoned the
passengers in manner contrary 10
duty With full consideration, however,
Of this conduct of the commander, ann
ed at accomplishing the rescue Oh
the crew and passengers, the Imperial
and Royal Marine authorities reached
the conclusion that he had omitted 10
take adequately into consideration the
panic that had broken out among the
passengers, which rendered diffcult
the taking to the boats and the spirit
of the regulation that Imperial and
ROYAL Marine officers shall fail in CIV
| ing help to nobody in need, not even
to an enemy.
Therefore, the officer was punished
in accordance with the existing rules
| for exceeding his instructions.
The Austrian statement
1.-The Imperial and Royal government
| in the face of this state of affairs does
not hesitate to draw the corresponding
conclusion respecting the indemnifca-
ton of American citizens affected by the
sinking of the prize, but in this regard
| it makes the following statement:
| THE investigation into the sinking OF
! the Ancona could naturally furnish NO
essential point to show in how far a
right to an indemnity is to be granted
American citizens. The Imperial and
| Royal government. cannot, indeed even
! according to the view of the Washing
| ton cabinet be held liable for damages
which resulted from the undoubtedly JUS
tilted bombardment of the fleeing ship
lit should just as little have to an
| swer for the damages which came tc
pass before the torpedoing Of the ship
through the faulty lowering Of 1ifeboats
/ or thS capsizing of lowered boats.
THE Imperial and Royal government.
must assume that the Washington gov
eminent is in a position and disposed
| to give it (the Austro- Hungarian gov.
ernmenD the required and certainly no,
unimportant information in this respect
| IF. however because Of possible lack
of material proofs, the particular cir
cumstances under which American
citizens suffered damage should not
have become known to the United
States government the Royal govern
ment in consideration for the humane
ly 6eplorable and regrettable incident
and by desire to proclaim once again
its friendly feelings toward the Federal
government would be gladly willing to
disregard this gap in the evidence and
to extend indemnities also to those
| damaged whose cause cannot be estab.
lished.
While the Imperial and Royal gov
eminent may probably consider the af-
fair of the Ancona as settled with the
foregoing statements, ii reserves to IT.
self at this time the right to bring UP
for discussion at later period the diff
ferent questions of international law
connected with submarine warfare.
The undersigned has the honor tc
request most respectfully that His Elk
cellency. the Ambassador of the United
States of America, will be pleased to
bring the foregoing to the attention OF
the Federal government and takes adj
vantage of this opportunity TO renew
to His Excellency an expression OF his
most especial esteem.
: tes.gned) "BURIAN."