Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1916-01-07
ISSUE WITH VIENNA
SETTLED BY NOTE
Punishment of Commander Held
DisavoWaI of Act.
WASHINGTON GETS THE TEXT
Austrian Government Places Blame on
Ancona's Crew, But Is Ready to
Pay lndemnity-Desires Friend
ship OF United States.

Washington, Jan. 1.-American de-
mands on Austria-Hungary in connec-
ton with the destruction of the steam
er Ancona apparently have been met
| In the new note from Vienna to Wash
| ington.
If the official text of Austria's reply
| to the second American note conforms
with press dispatches saying the COM
| munication announced that the subma-
rine commander who torpedoed the
steamer had been punished, virtually
only one phase of the incident remains
| to be cleared. That would be the
payment of an indemnity for Ameri-
| can lives lost, which Austria has ex-
pressed willingness to make. Later,
however, there may be full exchanges
between the United States and Austria
on the question of submarine warfare
and the necessity for warning before
attacking merchantmen.
The official text of the note was re-
ceived at the state department. The
work of translating from the diplomat
ic code will take several hours and ar
rangements for publication will BE-
made later.
Officials who had read the unofficial
version received in press dispatches
from London apparently were graft
fed over it's nature. Danger OF a
break Of diplomatic relations with
Austria-Hungary no longer was con-
sidered imminent.
The note says in part:
"In reply to the second American
Ancona note, the Austro-Hungarian
government fully agrees with the
Washington cabinet that the sacred
laws of humanity should be taken
into account also in war, and empha-
sizes that it, in the course of this war,
has given numerous proofs of the
most humane feelings.
THE Austro-H Hungarian govern
ment, too, can positively concur in
the principle that enemy private YES
sells, so far as they do not fly or offer
resistance, shall not be destroyed be-
fore the persons aboard are secured.
THE assurance that the United
States government attaches value to
the maintenance of the existing good
relations between Austria-Hungary
and the United States is warmly re-
ciprocated by the Austro-H Hungarian
government, which now, as heretofore,
Is anxious to render these relations
most cordial"
Austria also agrees to pay indem-
nifty for every American killed or In
injured on Ancona.
Ancona Tried to Escape.
The inquiry, 1t says, showed that
the commander of the submarine from
great distance, in the first instance,
fired warning shot at the steamer,
sighted at 11:40 o'clock in the fore
noon, which he at first believed to be
a transport steamer, at the same time
giving signal for the vessel to stop.
AS the steamer failed to stop and
tried to escape, the submarine gave
chase and fired 16 shells at the steam
er, Of which three were observed to
hit. The steamer only stopped after
the third hit, whereupon the COM
mander ceased firing.
Fully approaching the attitude of
the commander, who had in view the
rescue Of passengers and crew." says
the note, "the Austro-Hungarian naval
authorities have arrived at the conclu-
sion that he apparently neglected to
take sufficiently into consideration the
panic among the passengers, which
made Decentralization more difficult,
and the spirit of the regulations that
Austro-Hungarian naval officers should
refuse assistance to no one in distress.
even an enemy. The officer was there
fore punished for violating the instruc-
tons embodied in the rules in force
for such cases.
Proof Asked. Not Demanded.
THE Austro-Hungarian govern
ment does not hesitate, in view of the
circumstances, to draw the appropria-
ate conclusion concerning the indemni-
flying of American citizens affected by
the sinking of the prize, but for the
damage caused by the doubtlessly JUS
titled firing on the fleeing vessel the
Austro-Hungarian government cannot
well be made responsible, or for the
damages which resulted from the in
correct Decentralization or the capsiz-
ing of the lowered boats before the
torpedo was fired.
Hopes Affair Is Ended.
But in case appropriate evidence is
lacking and the United States govern
ment should not have knowledge of
the particulars of how the American
citizens came to GRIEF the Austro-Hun-
garian government, in consideration OF
the incident. which, from an humane
standpoint is deeply to be regretted,
and guided by the desire once more to
manifest its friendly feelings toward
the United States, is ready and pre-
pared TO pass lightly over this def
cheney of evidence and also to in
demnify for damages, whose proxi-
mate cause could not be fixed.