Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-01-01
VIENNA Furnishes
SUBMARINE CHIEF
Unofficial Text Of Austrian Note
Meets Views Of United States
in Principle.
AGREES TO PAY INDEMNITY


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 I'm Principle.
"The Austro-Hungarian govern
ment, too. can positively concur in
the principle that enemy private yes
sells, so far as they do not fly OF 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-
ciprocatad by the Austro-Hungarisn
government. which now. as hereto
fore, is anxious 10 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 capsised.
After the steamer stopped the
commander of the submarine OBJ
served that six boats were fully
manned and they speedily rowed
away from the steamer.
Sees Panic Reign.
Approaching nearer the commander o.
the submarine say that a great panic
prevailed aboard tho steamer and tina
he had before him the passenger vesse
Ancona on account OF which he gav'
those aboard more time than was neces
sary 70 leave the vessel IN lifeboats. A
least ten iifeboats were stiii aboard
which would have more than auffieed 4
rescue the persons stlll on the vessel. bu
as no other preparations were made Il
hoist out the boats the commander 60
clded after the expirarson OF forty-fiv'
minutes 20 torpedo the vessel in such I
manner that II ought TO remain efioa
for still longer time. IN order to ieav'
sufficient opportunity for the peopl
aboard to DO rescued"
Shortly afterwards a steamer becams
visible. which steamed toward the sub
marine. AZ the commander OF the sub
marine, who believed the steamer 10 b
an enemy cruiser. had TO reckon with Al
attack. he submerged at 1885 o'clock. fir
Ing torpedo into the foremost earg'
hold OF the Ancona No more boat
aboard the vessel were lowered, although
persons were still visible aboard.
The steamer sank 90 slowly that TN
submarine commander at first doubte,
whether the steamer would sink. oni,
ct t;so o'clock ala Il sink, bow first.
During those further forty-five minutes
Il Is averred. all the persons aboard coul'
have easily been saved with the availahl
boats. From the circumstances that thi
did not occur the commander concludes
that the crew, contrary TO ali the rule
ef the seas. accomplished their owl
rescue IN the first boats and left tn
passengers 10 themselves.
Cause OF Casualties.
The entire loss OF life. the note set
forth. cannot be attributable In the frs
instance 70 the sinking Of the vessel. bu
in some degree TO the dropping OF tn
first boats while the steamer was pro
ceeding at full speed and 20 the fact tina
the crew only thought Of their own safet,
and aid not rescue the passengers from
the cspsised boats. though. also to tn
shells which hit the fleeing vessel. Blu
the death OF the persons drowned with IN
sinking vessel must. above ALL h
ascribsd to the 'cuipabie behavior" o
the crew.
The Austrian reply then states that In
American note in several points Is base
on incorrect suggestions and describes a
incorrect that a shell was AZ once fired
that the submarine. on pursuit. overtoo
the steamer. that only a short time wa
allowed for those aboard 20 enter IN
boats and that several shots were fire
on the steamer even after Il had stopped
The commander OF the submarine. IN
note continues. allowed the steamer NOR
time thar was necessary for the pas
sengers % take 10 the boats and the
torped0ed the vessel in. such a panne
that Il Would remain afIoat A. long a
possible 20 enable the passengers 10 dis
emhark--.'an object which would hav
been obtained. n the passengers had nc
been fordaken BY the crew"