HESPERIAN FOUNDERS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2561, 8 September 1915, Page 5

HESPERIAN FOUNDERS

CREW RESCUED IN TIME By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright London, September 6. .The Hesperian's crow were rescued before the vessel foundered this morning, and were landed at Qucenstown, THIRTEEN PEOPLE MISSING. UNITED STATES MAILS LOST. (Rcc. September 7, 3.30 p.m.) London, September 6. Two steamers endeavoured to tow tho Hesperian, but made no headway. She sank almost where-she was torpedoed. Tho fore compartments filled with water and finally broke the bulkhead, and the vessel foundered. - ■ _ It is announced that the Hesperian was unarmed. , Thirteen passengers are missing, and 3545 sacks of mails wore lost, many for the United States. - .(Rcc. September 7, 9.30 p.m.) . London, September 7. Official. —"Thirteen'of the Hesperian's crew are also missing." PRESS AND PUBLIC OPINION. WHAT THEY SAY IN AMERICA. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (Rec. September 7, 5.5 p.m.) London, September 7. The "Times" says: "The attack on the Hesperian is a significant commentary on Count Bernstorff's recent Note to Washington, promising that passenger liners would not. in future be attacked without warning. The submarine commander did his utmost to involve both the passengers and tho crew in a common catastrophe. It is certain that this attack will cause a* great disillusionment at Washington." GERMAN ALLEGATIONS. (Rec. September .7, 9.10 p.m.)' Washington, September 7. The State officials are of opinion that the German submarine commander will allege that the Hesperian was not a liner but an armed transport. The German-American newspapers alleged that the vessel carriod a'fouriuch gun aft. t ANOTHER STEAMER SUNK. London, September 6. The British .steamer Cymbeline, 4505 tons, has been sunk. Thirty-one of the crew were landed. Six were killed and eix were injured.

LIFE ON A PIRATE SUBMARINE

TOLD BY A CAPTIVE New York, September 6. 1 List, a sailor boy, the son of GermanAmerican parents, was aboard a Norwegian steamer when she . was sunk by a submarine and was a- prisoner for eleven.days aboard U39. He states that tho latter chased fourteen ships and Bank eleven.- When her ammunition was exhausted she replenished it at Heligoland, where List was discharged. He describes the hurried sinking of the Gadsby. The commander lield that there must not bp. a moment's delay, as a destroyer or an aeroplane might destroy 'the submarine. The- utmost caution was observed in sailing on the .surface. The, crew was warned that many British freight steamers carried quick-firing guns under tarpaulins. When 1139 fired Tier last torpedo sho narrowly missed a large liner escorted by four destroyers.. .The submarine was not detected. and 1 dropped below the surface. "Dog's Life in a Steel Can." Tho captain said he was glad he had missed for the sake of tho passengers. He hated to think .of the dead and the poor devils swimming about in tho water. ■ _ ■ _ List described! the life of the man on a submarine as "a dog's life in a steel oan." He is sleepless and always on the brink of death. Officers and men are like cogs in a machine, not human beings. The submarines have an intimato knowledge of and charts of Brit-, isli submarine nets. They simply plunged, and passed' underneath tliem, just as they ducked under the net sweeps towed by trawlers._ List learned that. Captain Weddigen, commander of the U29, was killed. Ho chased an armed British steamer. The latter when challenged stopped, hoisted the Spanish flag, and then fired a 2.7 gun, sinking tho submarine instantly. [It was persistently reported that U29 was sunk .by.; (i British merchantman under a neutral (lag, but the British Admiralty . issued. an official denial to tlio sta,teiiieijt, and stated that Weddigen's submarine! was destroyed by a British' warship!]

THE PEACE RUMOURS

AND THE SUBMARINE NOTE (''Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (Rec. September 7, 5.5 p.m.) London, September 6. Tho "Times's" New York-correspon-dent says that Germany is still discussing tho question of peaco, through; the American Press, but President Wilson does not expect, either now or in tho near future, to take any steps in the direction of mediation. "Unofficial announcements from London, Paris, and Petrograd indicate that tho Allies aro inflexibly resolved.to light until the victory is won, and these nro considered to have automatically disposed of Cardinal Gibbnn-s's r.ppeal for peace. Tho "Times's" Washington correspondent says that responsible opinion l regards tho German peace talk as German duplicity, insulting to American intelligence. Doubts havo arisen as to whether tho much-acclaimed submarine surrender is not tarred with tho samo brush. Important newspapers are now nointim; out m-kin nhvimis omissions Count BornstorfE's Notoi State-

nients which' have been made in some quarters that Berlin is withholding comprehensive concessions until Prosin -i--L son takes. action against the "iitish blockade do not strengthen American confidence.' GERMAN PROPAGANDA. (Rec. September 7, 3.30 p.m.)' ■ _ New Yorki September 7. Americans realise that the loose peace talk recently given prominence in the newspapers was the direct result of Gorman propaganda. The opinion, apparently prevalent in Europe, that the Americans havo been bamboozled, and that President "Wilson has been possibly ensnared by German subtlety, is incorrect. The "suggestion that President Wilson and tho Pope are actively co-operating in framing peace overtures is a mero illusion. It is realised that the German propaganda sought to show that Germany was desirous of ending the bloody struggle and that Englana was blocking tho way to a settlement; also to secure to Germany a much-needed financial and diplomatic help from neutrals. Nine out of ten Americans believe that the Allies _ are fighting for _ the most cherished ideals of civilisation, and re-, gard Prussianism as a menace to the Western world. DID THE POPE WRITE TO THE „ PRESIDENT? (Rec. September 7, 3.30 p.m.) Rome, September 7. The Pope has not sent any letter to President Wilson. He awaits a favourable moment. Mediation by America would be unsuitable, because American policy tends towards . the Entente. Mediation is only possible by a country not committed towards the Entento, such as Switzerland, Spain, or tho Scandinavian countries. (Rcc. September 7, 9.40 p.m.) London, September 7. Renter's correspondent at Washington states that the facts are that the Pope cabled to Cardinal Gibbons the Vatican's views on peaco, and, instructed him to deliver them to President Wilson. Thus, technically, the Pope's, message was addressed to Cardinal Gibbons, not President Wilson. The Pope desired to learn President Wilson's views informally, prior to a formal message.