SINKING OF THE ARABIC

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2547, 23 August 1915, Page 5

SINKING OF THE ARABIC

CAPTAIN'S STORY

A TERRIFIC EXPLOSION

TWO AMERICANS MISSING

PUBLIC ANGER IN UNITED

STATES

By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright

London, August 20. Captain Fiuch, of the steamer Arabic, sunk by a German submarine, says the torpedo caused a terrific explosion, which, shook tho ship from stem to stern. A column of water shot up. Tho largest lifeboats had previously been swung out and the life rafts were ready. Lifebelts had been distributed on the decks. Fourteen liftboats wero launched, but two capsized. This was unavoidable, because tho Arabic rose almost perpendicularly before sinking storuward.

Captain Finch remained on tho bridge and was.carried down by the suction, re-turning to the surfaco amidst wreckage, which severely injured his leg. With thfi asistanco of a fireman ho helped several passengers, including women and a baby, who were struggling ill the water, into a lifeboat. Captain I'incli was so exhausted that he had to wait until a rising swell made it easier for him to scramble oil to a raft.' lie was twenty minutes in the water and two. hours and a half on the.raft. When the vessel was struck warning was telegraphed to the engine-room to take way off. ('J'lio orders were carried 'out. Twenty Victoria Crosses ought to be given to the engine-room heroes. The third engineer and the assistant electrician, remaining on duty in the engine-room, perished when tho vessel foundered. i Two warships rescued the survivors after they had been, two hours in the boats. All their belongings were lost. Bliss Stella Card cheered up the other women in tho lifeboat by singing "Tipperary." Some passengers declare that they were breakfasting when the boilers oxplcded. Many, landed with their clothing torn and in a. pitiful plight. One woman wore a naval officer's overcoat. Sixteen' persons were sent to tho hospital in Queenstown. They aro mostly members of the crew. PIRATE CHASED AND FIRED AT. (Rec. August 22, 3.30 p.m.) London, August 21. ' An American passenger states that a vessel chased the submarine and fired five shots at her, and then picked up eight boat-loads of the Arabic's survivors. , MAILS AND PASSENGERS i London, August 20.• The Arabic carried San Francisco mails. ■ Only two American passengers on tho Arabic are unaccounted for. Information which the Prime Minister received on Saturday afternoon from tho High Commissioner states:— "The New Zealand mails posted in London on August 17 have been lost on tho' Arabic."

TWO BOATS PICKED UP. (Reo. August 22, 4 p.m.) London, August 21. Two of the Arabic's boats have been picked "up, containing two bodies. AMERICAN OPINION PRESIDENT WILSON AWAITS DETAILS „ ■ , Washington, August 20. President Wilson and the State Depaitment refuse ■to conmiont on the sinking of the Arabic until official deI tails are received. The Press demands vigorous measnres, as it has been pointed out that Germany has passed all endurance by deliberately defying American opinion. Several newspapers criticise President n llson s weakened attitude. IN THE EVENT OF A 'RUPTURE. TWO IMMEDIATE STEPS. (Reo. August 22, 2.10 p.m.) London, August 21. The "Daily Telegaph's" New York correspondent _ reports: "In the event of a diplomatic severance between the United States and Germany, the two immediate steps contemplated are; first, the internment of the tens of thousands of minaturalised Teutons in the United States, these including many reservists ■ find, second, the attachment of all German ships in American ports. Arrangements were recently made for the concentrations, and a census was taken of the aliens. It is certain that all Ger-man-Americans continuing to preach sedition will promptly be arrested, and the German newspapers subjected to a rigorous censorship. Count Bernstorff and tibo other officials of the German Embassy have refused an interview. They are highly excited over the latest development, and their hourly fear is that they will bo deprived of their wireless privilege connection with Germany, as this would involve the stoppage of diplomatic messages and news from Germany. • The loss of the latter would deprive the militant German newspapers . of their greatest asset—reports of 'continuous German victories, reports that Ireland Was rising in revolution, and that England was olamouring for peace. j There will be no Cabinet meeting until next week, when the official reports- of the attack on the Arabic will then, he available.

American anxiety is unabated. A declaration of war must bo sanctioned by Congress, and already there is a strong demand in some quarters that Congress should meet early to discuss tho situation. All the ammunition plants are working overtime. EXPLANATION TO BE-DEMANDED. (Reo. August 22, 4 p.m. London, August 21. Router's correspondent at- Washing-, ton says that the State Department 'announces that Mr. Gerard (American Ambassador at Berlin) will'probably be. directed to call Germany's attention to tho sinking of the Arabic, and ask for an explanation. BITTER CONDEMNATION IN THE . PRESS. "THIS ARROGANT BARBARIAN." Now York, August 20. The newspapers bitterly condemn tho ulnliina of llio Arabic, and ask whether .li. is Gtwiau.v'6 rculj; to the. Awartcan-. JS'atei- ,

The "World" says: "Even if the American passengers escaped, it does not modify the submarine commander's intention to commit deliberate murder." Tho "Tribune" says: "Tho act fulfils President Wilson's definition of n deliberately unfriendly act. To talk further is to encourage and not to avoid murder." The "Journal of Commerce" saj"K: "Does there exist no power in the civilised world to keep this arrogant barbarian among nations within bounds ?" (Rec. August 22, 4 p.m.) New York, August 21. Tile "Tribuno" says: "Tho one course for President Wilson to follow with dignity and honour is immediately to hand Count Bernstorlf his passports, and recall Mr. Gerard from Berlin. It is time to have done with a. nation tvhicli has repudiated every scrap of international law and adopted a- policy tvliich is a, dhallenjzo to humanity and. the negation of all that civilisation means."

GERMAN PUBLIC KEPT IN THE DARK • \. FOREIGN OFFICE NERVOUS ABOUT THE SEQUEL. ' Amsterdam, August 20. Details of tho sinking of the Arabic aro withheld from the Gorman newspapers. The news has caused nervousness, the Foreign Office fearing difficulties with Washington. MORE STEAMERS TORPEDOED ANOTHER WHITE STAR BOAT New York, August 20. Advices rtceived by the American Press report tho • torpedoing of the White Star liner Bovic (6583 tons), formerly engaged in the Australian trade. Tho locality is not known, details not having been received. London, August 20. The Dunsley was sunk by a submarine. Thirty-five of her crew were landed. Two were killed. The British steamers Baron Erskine (5385 tons) and Estormed (PEsrom, 3208 tons) have been sunk. Tho orews were saved. . '• '• The British steamer New York City, 2070 tons, has been sunk. The crew were landed. LATEST VICTIMS OF THE PIRATES. (Rec. August 22, i p.m.) - ; . London, August 21. Tho Spanish steamer Pena Castillo (1718 tons) has been sunk; threo of the crow were saved. The Norwegian steamer, Sverresborg (1150 tons) and tho British steamers Beii Vracldo (3908 tons) and Gladistor have been sunk. < Their crews were landed. Tho steamers Bittern (1797 tons) and Sumara, and the Norwegian steamer Bras, have been sunk. Their crows were saved. , 1 WEEK'S LOSS IN MERCHANT SHIPPING

22,970 TONS, AND TEN FISHING t . BOATS. London, August 20. For the week ending August 18 there wero 14S0 'arrivals and sailings. Two vessels were mined and eleven submarined, aggregating 22,970 tons; r.lso ten fishing boats. IN FORBIDDEN WATERS GERMAN SUBMARINE WARNED OFF. Copenhagen, August 20. A German submarino hailed the mail steamer Irma, from Newcastle, a-little north of tho Jaeterens Rent. The Irma swung out her boats. Meanwhile, a Norwegian torpedo-boat arrived and told the submarine she was in Norwegian waters, The submarine thereupon retired. There were several British tourists on the Irma. CHIEF PIRATE DECORATED Amsterdam, August 20. Die Kaiser has conferred tho Order of Merit on Admiral von Tirpitz, Secretary to the Navy.