The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-01

=. full of people, half turned outward on the davits
 Since, however, except for this, no further move was made to lower boats the commander decided, after a lapse of 45 minutes, to torpedo the ship in such a manner that it should remain a considerable time afloat, in order that on the one hand the getting of the people into the lifeboats should be hastened, and that on the other, adequate opportunity should remain Tor rescuing the persons still aboard.
 Shortly thereafter a steamer be- came visible which was throwing out heavy clouds of smoke and headed to- ward the Ancona. It apparently had been summoned by the Ancona's wire less.
 Since the submarine commander had to reckon on an attack by a steamer which he took for an enemy cruiser, he submerged after having, at 12:35 o'clock in the afternoon. had a torpedo fired into the forward baggage hold of the Ancona from a distance of 800 metres. The Ancona listed about 10 degrees to starboard after this shot.
 ''Thereupon an effort was made to lower the lifeboat, which already was half turned out on the davits. It broke loose, however and fell into the wa ter. The lfeboat floated keel down farther and the people held fast to the gunwale.
 TEN BOATS LEFT
 "Of the other boats none was Powered into the water, although persons could still be observed aboard The steamer gradually righted itself to an even keel and settled so slowly that the submarine commander at first doubted whether the steamer would sink. Not until 1:20 o'clock did it sink, after a lengthy parallel settling, with the bow first.
 During these further 45 minutes all persons yet aboard could have been saved without difficulty with the boats still on hand.
 From the fact that this, contrary to his expectations, was not done, the commander concluded that the crew contrary to all seamen's customs, had accomplished their own rescue with the first boats and abandoned to them . selves the passengers entrusted to their protection.
 "The weather at the time of the in cident was good and the sea calm so that the lifeboats could have reached the nearest coast without danger, as, indeed the lifeboats actually were damaged only by the unskilled lower ing, but not after they had struck the water.
 "The loss of human lives is in the first instance by no means ascribable to the sinking of the ship but, and in all probability in a much higher meas ure, to the rapid lowering (hinunter werfen) of the boats during full speed as well as to the fact that the crew concerned only for itself did not res cue the passengers of the capsized toats.
 'Tt is also probably ascribable to shots which hit the fleeing vessel, but the death of persons who sank with the steamer is also, above all. ascrib- able to the disloyal conduct of the crew.
 "As appears from the above adduced state of affairs the very esteemed note of December is based in many points on incorrect premises. Information reaching the United States government that solid shot was immediately fired toward the steamer is incorrect; it is incorrect that the submarine over- hauled the steamer during the chase; it is incorrect that only brief period was given for getting the people into the boats.
 PLENTY OF TIME
 "On the contrary, an unusually long period was granted to the Ancona for getting passengers in the boats.
 Finally it is incorrect that a num- Der of shells were still fired at the steamer after it had stopped.
 '"The facts of the case demonstrate further that the commander of the submarine granted the steamer 9 full 45 minutes time, that is more than adequate period, to give the persons aboard an opportunity to take to the boats. Then, since the people were not all saved, he carried out the tor pedoing in such a manner that the ship could remain above water the longest possible time, doing this with the purpose of making possible the abandonment of the vessel on boats still in hand.
 'Since the ship remained further 45 minutes above water, he would have accomplished his purpose if the crew of the Ancona had not abandoned the passengers in manner contrary to duty.
 with full consideration, however, of this conduct of the commander, aimed at accomplishing the rescue of the Crew and passengers, the imperial and royal marine authorities feacheu the conclusion that he had omitted to take adequately into consideration the panic that had broken among the passengers which rendered difficult the taking to the boats, and the spirit of regulation that imperial and royal marine officers shall fail in giving 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 imperial and royal government in the face of this state of affairs, does not hesitate to draw the corresponding conclusions respecting the indemnlflca- ton of the American citizens affected by the sinking of the prize, but in this re- gard it makes the following statement:
 AUSTRIAN OFFER
 ..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 Washington cabinet, be held liable for damages which resulted from the undoubtedly Justified boinbardment of the fleeing ship.
 ..It should just as little have to answer for the damages which came to pass before the torpedoing of the ship, through the faulty lowering of lifeboats or the capsizing of lowered boats.
 'The imperial and royal government must assume that the Washington gov ernment is in position and disposed to give it (the Austro-Hungarian govern ment) the required and certainly not un- important information in this respect
 ''If, however, because of possible lack of material proofs, the particular circum- stances under which American citizens suffered damage should not have become known to the union government. the royal government ip consideration Of the humanely deeply regrettable incident, and by a desire to proclaim once again it's friendly feelings toward the federal gov ernment, would gladly be willing to dis