Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-01
VIENNA Furnishes
SUBMARINE CHIEF
Unofficial Text Of Austrian Note
Meets Views of United States
in Principle.
AGREES TO PAY INDEMNITY

LONDON. Dec. 31.-The reply OF
the Austrian government TO the sec
ond American note on the sinking of
the steamship Ancona with the loss
of American lives is forwarded to
Reuters Telegram company from
Vienna by way of Amsterdam. The
note says:
I'm 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 en-
phasiZes that It. in the course of this
war, has given numerous proofs Of
the most humane feeling.
Concurs In Principle.
''The Austro-Hungarian govern
ment. too. can positively concur in
the principle that enemy private yes
sells. 80 far as they do not fly or Of
fer resistance, shall not be destroyed
before the persons aboard are Sc
cured.
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-
ciprocatsd by the Austro-Hungarian
government, which now, as hereto
fore, is anxious TO render these rela-
tons still more cordial"
The Austro-Hungarian government
then communicates the results of the
inquiry into the sinking Of the An
coma, which was recently concluded.
Fires Warning shot.
The inquiry showed that the COM
mander OF the submarine from a
great distance, in the first instance,
fired a warning shot on the steamer,
sighted at 11;40 in the forenoon,
which he at first believed to be a
transport steamer at the same time
giving q signal for the vessel TO
stop. As the steamer failed to stop
and tried to escape the submarine
gave chase and fired sixteen shells
at the steamer, OF which three were
observed to hit. The steamer only
stopped after the third hit, where
upon the commander ceased firing.
During the flight. II is declared,
when at full speed. the steamer
dropped several boats filled with
people, which at once capsized.
After the steamer stopped the
commander OF the submarine OBJ
served that six boats we're fully
manned and they speedily rowed
away from the steamer.
sees Paaic Reign.
Approaching nearer the commander OF
tho submarine say that n great panic
prevailed aboard the steamer and that
he had before him the passenger vessel
Ancona on account OF which he save
those aboard more time than was neces-
sary 70 leave the vessel IN lifeboats. A
least ten lifeboats were stu aboard
which would have more than aufflced "a
rescue the persons still on the vessel, but
as no other preparations were made "a
hoist out the boats the commander Co
elded after the expirarson OF forty-fivs
minutes 20 torpedo the vessel In such q
manner that Il ought 10 remain afloai
for a stu longer time. IN order 10 leave
sufficient opportunity for the people
aboard TO be rescued"
shortly afterwards a steamer became
visible. which steamed toward the sub
marine. AZ the commander Of the sub
marine, who believed the steamer 10 be
an enemy cruiser. had 20 reckon with an
attack. he submerged az 1875 o'clock. fir
ing torpedo into the foremost cargo
hold OF the Ancona No more boats
aboard the vessel were lowered, although
perscns were still visible aboard.
The steamer sank 80 slowly that The
submarine commander at first doubted
whether the steamer would sink. Only
At i;so o'clock ala II sink. bow first.
During these further forty-five minutes
Il Is averred. all the persons aboard eoulC
have easily been saved with the availabl,
boats. From the circumstances that thil
did not occur the commander concluded
that the crew. contrary 70 ali the rule,
OF the seas. accomplished their owr
rescue IN the first boats and left IN,
passengers TO themselves.
Caase OF Casuaities.
The entire loss OF life. the note set
forth. cannot be attributable in the frs
instance 10 the sinking Of the vessel, bu
IN some degree 20 the dropping of thu
first boats while the steamer was pro
\ eeeding at full speed and to the fact tina
the crew only thought Of their own SAFETY
and aid not rescue the passengers from
the capsized boats. though, also TO the
shells which hit the fleeing vessel. Blu
the death OF the persons drowned with TN
sinking vessel. must, above ALL h
ascrlbed 70 the "culpable behavior o.
the. crew.
The Austrian reply then states that lh'
American poto Ia several points Is hases
on incorrect suggestions and describes a
Incorrect that a shell was AZ once fired
that the submarine. on pursuit. overtool
the steamer. that only a short time wal
allowed for those aboard to enter IN
boats and that several shots were fire.
on the steamer even after Il had stopped
The commander OF the submarine. tn
note continues. allowed the steamer NOR
dime than was NECESSARY for the mas