DUTCH LINER SUNK

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2723, 18 March 1916, Page 5

DUTCH LINER SUNK

IN THE NORTH SEA , ■ ' BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN TORPEDOED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, March 16. The Dutch liner Tubantia sent . a wireless message that she was sinking in the North Sea. All the Tubantia's passengers and crew were saved. The disaster occurred at 2.30 in the morning. The distress call was heard at Dover) and tugs and other craft put out. The Tubantia left Amsterdam .yesterday for Buenos Aires with 83 passengers, 294 of a crew, and a large cargo and mails.

The first message received, indicated the position as near North Hinder) and that she was afloat at 8.30 this morning. The passengers seem to have got clear in two boats. The_ survivors reached North Hinder. It is believed that a Dutch steamer picked up the othors. Plenty of succour was sent, including torpedo boats from Flushing. It is doubtful whether the vessel was mined or torpedoed. The captain strongly believes that she was torpedoed.

[The Tubantia was a steel twin-screw vessel, of 13,911 tons, and was built in 1894.]

VESSEL SANK IN THREE HOURS, (Rec. March 17, 8.45 p.m.) London, March 16. The Tubantia's captain reports that the vessel was torpedoed. There was an immense explosion and she sank in three hours. A Dutch steamer is bringing the survivors to Amsterdam. STRUCK AMIDSHIPS. NO PANIC ON BOARD. (Rec. March 17, 10 p.m.) Rotterdam, March 17. The Tubantia was approaching North Hinder lightsliip ais 2 o'clock in the morning. It was very dark, and there was a high sea. , The explosion rent 3 great hole amidships. Despito the darkness and the many passengers thrown' out of their bunks, there was .no panic. The Marconi operator pluckilv. sent out "5.0.5." to the last. The captain left the bridge, a few minutes before the vessel disappeared. The look-out saw the torpedo coming.

OPINION IN AMERICA

FURTHER COMPLICATIONS FEARED. .

Washington, March 16. ' The torpedoing of the Tubantia is likely to cause further complications i.-itih German'y. •. It is hoped in. American Government circles that the retirement of von Tirpitz, with the probablfe control of the German naval policy passing, to the Kaiser and Herr von Betlimanu Hollweg, will be likely to result in an improvement in the submarine campaign. The announcement of the torpedoing of the Patria has also aroused public feeling. President Wilson's attitude now. arousing distrust amongst even his own party. The dispatch of American troops to Mexico has had a bad effect, as Americans generally believe it will result in war with Carrauza or some other faction there, thus weakening the United States' power to discuss other questions with the Allies or the Germans. . . ~ The Press is increasingly, bitter in its comments on President Wilson's weakness, pointing out that the State Department is now merely & targst for foreign jokes.

FRENCH LINER PATRIA

FIRED AT WITHOUT WARNING.

(Rec. March 17, 8.45 p.m.) Now York, March 16. The French liner Patria, with nine • hundred passengers aboard, from Palermo, reports that while passing Tunis a. submarine fired a torpedo without warning, but the torpedo passed, twenty feet astern. '■