ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 November 1915, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

THE ANCONA. A TERRIBLE ATROCITY. HEART-BREAKING DETAIL!;. London, Nov. 11. One hundred and sixty-one survivors torn the Ancona reached Bizerta on J'onday and Tuesday on board a minesweeper and torpedo boat. The first list of passengers includes twenty-five Americans. The Milan correspondent of the Daily Telegraph gives the story of the Ancona. ' After leaving Naples she called at Messina. Suddenly on Sunday, a submarine appeared and chased the steamer, which increased her speed to seventeen knots. The submarine caught her and began firing and hitting her repeatedly on the stern. The scenes were indescribable. Women fell on their knees and children screamed, but there was no escape from the ruthless pursuers. Finally, the captain, out of regard for the lives of his passengers and crow, gave orders for the engines to stop. The submarine approached, still firing, awl when unable to destroy the vessel with shells torpedoed the. steamer, which immediately listed and began to sink. There was not sufficient time to lower all the boats and many*passengers who eventually were rescued jumped or fell overboard. DAMNABLE TACTIC:-.. FIRING ON LIFEBOAT* The steamer had been able to send a wireless call for help, which was answered by the French stations at Bizerta and Ferryvillc. Steam launches sent out from Ferryvillc rescued 100 passengers and ten of the crew. The submarine was still on the scene when' the rescuers arrived and before submerging fired several shots at the rescuers, one hitting a lifeboat in which were women and children. A man, woman and two boys were hilled. The bodies were brought to Bizerta. Rome, Not. 11. The Ancona was passing Cape Carbonara (Sardinia). One of the monster submarines delivered to Austria from Krupp's early in 101") chased her and soon overhauled her. Despite her engines having been stopped she deiibaately turned her cannon on the helpless vessel and a hundred shells tore huge rents in her sides. Finally she fired a torpedo amidst the desperate shrieks of the victims. When the rescuers arrived the submarine repeatedly fired on two lifeboats crowded with rescued passengers, who were mad with terror. The majority were third-class Venetian ttnd Apuiian emigrants. The Ancona had, lifeboat accommodation for 2500, and it is hoped all have, been saved. Fifty have landed at Malta and 110 lia\e been rescued by a French steamer. Milan, Nov. 11. An eye-witness on the Ancona states that the submarine fired on the rescue boats, killing women and children. ESCAPE FROM THE SHIP. Paris, Nov. 11. Details from Cape Bon state that the Ancona at mid-day perceived two submarines. Several of the rescued state that first they were flying the German flag, but the Austrian flag was immediately substituted. Owing to the noise of the Aneona's hooter in the thick fog, and her reduced speed, the submarines had approached unobserved. One, over 300 ft. long, carried two 75mm. guns, one fore and the other aft. The other submarine placed herself athwart the bows of the Ancona, which was attempting to escape. Immediately the Ancona was hit by the torpedo the captain ordered the boats to be lowered. The eighth had just touched the water when the liner sank bows first. The passengers and crew still on board crowded the aft deck and were engulfed with the ship. The- eight boats rowed together southwards and sighted in the evening a vessel with her lights out. They signalled with flares, and she approached, but noticed the submarines on the horizon, and, altering her course, disappeared in the darkness. The boats then' separated. One, commanded by Lieut. Salvemini, with 20 on board, arrived at 9 in the morning at the beach at Sidi d'Aculi, Cape Bon Peninsula. The European inhabitants are caring for them. Later another boat with 28 persons was picked up in the vicinity of the Cape. THE USUAL EXCUSE. Amsterdam, Nov. 10. Semi-official reliable information states that the Ancona attempted to escape, and the submarine was obliged to use guns. The announcement removes all doubt of the submarine's nationality, since it was made in Berlin, not Vienna. CAPTAIN'S REPORT. Rome. Nov. 11. The captain of the Ancona has arrived and confirmed the statement thai the submarine shelled the boats in the davits full of people. Many were killed and wounded. Some shipwrecked people approached the submarine, but were repulsed with jeers. Tie declares emphatically thai ihe submarine did not signal him to stop but first fired a shell at five mild range, grazing the vessel. The Ancona stopped dead. The last shell and the torpedoes were fired at a quarter oi ? mile's distance. BRITISH PASSENGER'S STORY. A SCENE OF TERROR. Malta, Nov. 11. A British third-class passenger on the Ancona, interviewed, said she called at Messina on Sunday and embarked 130 third-class passengers, mostly Greeks and some Italians. The majority were children, though many were women. She sailed at 5 in the afternoon. The captain, warned of the presence of sub. marines, took all possible precautions. At 1 o'clock on Monday afternoon he sighted a submarine at a great distance. She came at full-speed in our direction, firing a shot across our bows. This signal caused the wildest panic, even among the men. The passenger did not remember whether she .stopped after the first shot, but believed the engines were still going. The submarine continued to shell them while rapidly gaining upon the vessel. The sixth shot completely destroyed [the chart house, and the engines

stopped. The submarine was now seen plainly to be Austrian. It came alongside, and the commander talked to the Aneona's captain in a somewhat curt manner. We were told that we should be given a few minutes to abandon the ship. The, submarine, withdrew a abort distance. No time was lost in making arrangements, but soon there was a regular pandemonium. All the passengers and women appeared to have lost their heads. The submarine continued to tiro around the vessel. There was a rush for the boats which were being lowered. Some of these, which were not free from the davits, were overturned by tile heavy load of occupants, who were thrown out, and many were drowned. Heartrending shrieks run: ihe air, but help was not forthcoming, Mid everyone acted for himself.

The submarine continued to discharge shot after shot. This ruchkssness wa;i all the more ineunipreliensibe rts the assailant was tiring all round tin. vessel, as though to create the utmost terror. Eight lifeboats took away fair complements, but he fears fully one half of the passengers and crew perished. Some time after leaving the vessel he heard four shots in succession—the Ancona had been blown up. A British steamer brought his boat to Malta.

HORROR IN NliW YDR7"

AMERICA'S HELPLESSNESS. New York, Nov. 11. There is an outburst of horror and indignation. It is expected President Wilson will demand reparation, arguing that non-combatants should be allowed full means of escape, and that he docs not consider small boats arc places of safety under international law. It ,is generally believed that Germany, through Austria, is making another effort to flout the law of humanity, believing that there will be no reparation. The outrage comes at the very time German-Americans have opened a virulent campaign in the Western States to defeat Mr. Wilson for the Presidency, on the ground that his policy favors the Entente. The Americans on the Ancona were chiefly Jews, returning from Palestine. It is pointed out that the United States is in a more helpless position as regards Austria than Germany. The Italian Embassy describes the sinking as absolute murder. The vessel was .outward bound, and therefore carried no munitions.' Press comment in the Ancona case is much less vigorous than in the case -Of the I'.nsitania. The general belief prevailing is that there is little America can do in view of the German attitude. TWENTY AMERICANS LOST. INQUIRIES BEING PROSECUTED. Naples, Nov. 10. Owing to the set of the current the Aneona's boats were carried southward instead of to Sardinia. According to the latest iists IS.I are missing. The Duke of Cassana w,as saved. The Aini.iicau Consul at Naples states that 270 people were saved. Mr. Lansing has ordered Mr. Page to visit Home to investigate the facts, particularly whether the vessel was shelled and torpedoed while attempting to escape. The Ambassador in Rome reports that about twenty Americans are believed to have perished. New York, Nov. 11. The agents of the Ancona received reports that over 400 were saved, but nothing official from the company. Ambassador Page has reported to Washington that the twenty passengers believed to be Americans were in the third class and have been lost.

•Mrs. Oriel, an American physician, was saved. She was recently working in the Italian Convalescent Hospital. THE DEATH ROLL., 257 VICTIMS, Received Nov. 1.1, 12.43 a.m. London, Nov. 12. The latest death roll of the Aneona's victims totals 257.