Middletown transcript., 1916-01-08
COMMANDER BROKE
RULE OF WARFARE
Man Who Sank Ancona Dis
Ciplined BY Austria.
DID NOT CONSIDER PANIC
Note Diminishes Fear Of Rupture.
Punishment Of U-Boat's Captain
Practically Meets Demands
Of United States.

LondOn.-The reply of the Austrian
! Government to the second American
note on the sinking of the steamship
lives, is forwarded to Reuters Tele-
gram Company from Vienna by way
Of Amsterdam.
The reply states that the commander
Of the Austrian submarine has been
punished for not sufficiently taking ac-
count of the panic aboard the Ancona
which rendered Decentralization more
difficult, and declares the desire of the
Austrian Government to maintain the
existing friendly relations with the
United States, and to make these rela-
tions still more cordial. The note
says:
Note Friendly In Tone.
"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 emphasizes
that it, in the course Of this war, has
given numerous proofs of the most hui
name feelings.
"The Austro-Hungarian Govern
ment, too, can positively concur in the
principle that enemy private vessels,
so far as they do not fly or offer re-
sistance, shall not be destroyed before
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-Hungarian
Government, which now, as hereto
fore, is anxious to render these rela-
tions still more cordial"
Willing To Pay Indemnity.
The Austrian reply further expresses
the hope that Washington will be able
to supply the particulars of how the |
American citizens were affected, but |
in the event of such evidence being
lacking and the United States being
zens came to their death, the Austro-
Government sis ready to |
pass lightly over this deficiency, and
indemnify for damages, whose proxi-
mate cause cannot be fixed, and hopes
thereby that the incident will be re-
garded as ended"
The note states, however, that the
Alls llstro-Hungarian Government can
not admit liability for damage caused
by the justifable firing on the fleeing
vessel, or by the capsizing of boats
before the torpedo was fired"
The Austro-Hungarian Government
then communicates the result of the
inquiry into the sinking of the Ancona,
which was recently concluded.
The inquiry showed that the COM
nander of the submarine, from a great
distance, in the first instance, fred a
shot on the steamer, sighted
It 11.40 in the forenoon, which he at
irst believed to be a transport steam
9r, at the same time giving a signal
or the vessel to stop. AS the steamer
allied to stop, and tried to escape, the
gave chase and fired 16
hells at the steamer, of which three
we're observed to hit. The steamer
Dnly stoppd after the third hit, where
Ipon the commander ceased firing firing.
Already during the fight, it is de-
Jared, when at full speed, the steamer
lropped several boats filed with peo-
lie, which at once capsized. After the
teamer stopped the commander Of
he submarine observed that six boats
we're fully manned and they speedily O.,
owed away from the steamer
Panic Aboard Liner.
Approaching nearer, the commander
f the submarine saw that a great E
anic prevailed aboard the steamer. f
nd that he had before him the pas /
enger vessel Ancona, on account of I