New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-01

Vienna, Dec. Sl.-The following note,
dated December 20, in answer to tho
American governments demands con
corning the sinking Of the Italian
steamer Ancona by an Austrian sub
marine. has been delivered TO Frederic
c. Penfeld. the American Ambassador;
an answer TO your very esteemed
note, No. 4,907, of the=~.r. inst, the
/ subscriber has the honor TO lay the fol
! lowing most respectfully before his eN.
| collency the Ambassador OF the united
/ States Of America, Frederic CORTLAND
/ Penfeld
The imperial and royal government
/ agrees thoroughly with the American
| Cabinet that the sacred commandments
/ of humanity must be observed also in
war. Just as 10 has hitherto given at
| no time and 10 no person occasion to
! doubt its respect for these command
ments, in Ike manner also in the whole
course Of this war, which presents such
pictures Of confusion Of moral concep-
tons, has 1t given numerous proofs OF
/ humanitarian sentiments toward enc
/ mica as we'll IS toward neutral states,
/ and IL was not due to this government
| that Il was a short time ago not in
| harmony with the Washington Cabinet
I precisely on a question which u lthe
Austro Hungarian government, in har-
mony with the entire public opinion in
Austria Hungary, regarded principally a
question of humanity.
Safety of Passengers Assured.
"The imperial and royal government
can also substantially concur in the
principle expressed in the very
esteemd note that private ships, insofar
as they do not fee or offer resistance,
may not be destroyed without the per
sons aboard being brought into safety.
The imperial and royal government
is very responsive TO the assurance
that the Federal government lays value
upon seeing that the good relations
which happily exist between Austria
Hungary and the United States of
America are maintained. 1t recipro-
Gates this assurance most warmly, and
Is now, rs heretofore, concerned to
render these relations more hearty, go
far as lies in its power.
Guided by the same spirit Of frank
ness as the government Of the Union,
the imperial and royal government, al
though it does not find In the note ire
quently referred to the answer to all
the legitimate questions submitted by
It, Is willing TO communicate 70 the
Federal government the result Of the
investigation which, IN accordance with
existing departmental regulations, was
begun Immediately after the receipt of
the feet report on the sinking Of the
AnconA and which was just recently re-
ceived
Result of Investigation.
The result Of this investigation may
be summarized as follows: On Novem-
Der 7, 1915, at 11:40 o'clock in the
forenoon, the commander of the sub
marine observed, in latitude $3.50
north, longitude 1908 east, in foggy
weather, at a distance OF roundly 5000
metres and one point TO starboard, the
outlines of large Italian steamer.
He took II at first for transport
steamer and turned about and fired
from his rear gun a warning shot far
from the vessel.
simultaneously he displayed the
signal, leave the ship The steamer
did not stop, but rather turned aside
and sought to escape. The commander
at frat remained stopped for some
minutes III OIutL 70 lACAcdSc b8lc N4o-
tance. since he feared that the steamer
had stern gun and would Are at the
submarine with II.
when the distance had reached
$500 metres he had the pursuit taken
up with full power, and fred from his
forward gun at a decreasing distance
sixteen shells. among which he OBJ
served three hits.
During the chase the steamer went
zig-zag, and stopped only after the
third hit. TheIeupon the commander
ceased firing.
During the fight the steamer had
already, while at full speed, let some
boats with persons in them fall, which
immediately cspsized. After stopping
the steamer began launching boats.
From q distance Of about 1000 me
Tres the commander saw that six boats
we're filed and rowed hastily away