Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1916-01-08

Punishment of Commander Held
DiSavoWal of Act.
WASHINGTON GETS THE TEXT,
Austrian Government Places Blame on
Ancona's Crew. But Is Ready to
Pay Indemnity-DesIres Friend
ship Of United States.

snip OF Onlteo states
Washington, Jan. 1.-American de-
mands on Austria-Hungary in connec-
ton with the destruction of the steam
er Ancopa 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 .oe 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 rote 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 its 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-Hungarian govern
ment, too, can positively. concur in
the principle that enemy private yes
| sess@ 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 Suites is warmly. re-
ciproeated by the Austro 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 r. :.
Ancona Tried to Escape.
The inquiry, it says. showed. that
the commander of the submarine from
a great .distance-in. the first instance.
fired "a warning shot at the steamer,
sighted at II 40 o'clock in the fore
! noon, which he at first believed to be
a: transport steamer a. thezsame time
gi7ing a signal for the vessel to stop:
AS the steamer. failed to stop and
tried to escape, the submarine gave
chase and fred 16. shells at the steam:
| er, of which, three were observed to
hit. The steamer only stopped after
| the third hit, whereupon the com
| mandergeased firing. =:
Fully approaching the attitude Of
the commander. who had in view the
rescue of passengers and crew" says
the note, 1.-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-H Hungarian naval officers should
refuse. assistance te 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 :.goz=,rn.
ment does not hesitate in .vlew"of the
|. circumstances. TO draw the apnropria.
ate conclusion concerning the indenini-
flying of'AmericaF citizens affected by:
the sinking OF the prize. but for the
damage. caused by the doubtlessIy JUS
titled. firing on the fleeing vessel the
Austro. Hungarian government acannz..
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 ezidence lis
lacking and. the United States govern.
ment should not haze knowled 20 .>1t
the particulars Of how the American
citizens came to grief tbe:Austro-Iiun:
garian government, in consideration. OF
| the incident. which. from an humane.
| standpoint is deeply 10 be regretted;
and guided by the desire once more 10
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.
Hoping that the Ancona incident
can now be regarded as cleared Up.
the Austro-Hungarian government
makes provision to submit for discus
a.