HAD HUGHES BEEN PRESIDENT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2903, 16 October 1916, Page 5

HAD HUGHES BEEN PRESIDENT

lUSITANIA WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SUNK IMPORTANT PRE-ELECTION ' DECLARATION Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. New York, October 13. Judge Hughes, the Presidential candidate, speaking at Louisville, Kentucky, last night, for the first time defined his position'regarding the Lusitania. Answering a heckler, he declared that'if he had been President When the German Embassy issued its warning that the L'usitania would' be sunk,' he would have announced that the sinking would be followed by a break of diplomatio relations, "and the Lusitania would never have been sunk"?' ' Hitherto, Judge Hughes has invariably discussed German-American relations in generalities. His Louisville announcement is accepted as meaning that the Republicans fear that they will lose tho election through the Democratic charge that Judge Hughes is "the Kaiser's candidate" unless he ceases catering for fie German-Ameri-can vote. p LOOKING FOR A GERMAN PIRATE BASE New York, October 13. 'AH available destroyers hare been ordered upon special duty throughout the Ailantic coast. They will not only search for a possible' German secret submarine base, but will also aci in a life-saving capacity if there are other submarine attacks on shipping on the coast. Mr. Daniels, Secretary of the Navy Department, announces that the Government has no reason to believe that Germany has succeeded in establishing a submarine base within the American jurisdiction, but owing to persistent re-, ports to this effect the Navy Department has decided upon a thorough investigation. lEYLAND LINER KINGSTONIAN SAFE • New York, October 13. The officials of tho Leyland line announce that the steamship Kingstonian has arrived in port safely. They declined to say where she is, but indicated that the vessel is about fourteen days' sail from, Nantucket. [The Kingstonian was supposed to have been one of the ships surilc by a German submarine off Nantucket, but nono of her crew were found among thoso rescued.] GROWING DISSATISFACTION IN ./ NEW YORK • (Rec. October 15, 5.5 p.m.) New York, October 13. There is growing dissatisfaction 'at the treatment of foreign submarines. It is rumoured that a tug slipped out of Now York for petrol supplies for U53. It is also suggested that ■plies are sent from New London, and it is pointed out that tho Eastern Forwarding Company has been permitted to screen its' dock at Now London, whither petrol was sent, ostensibly for tho Bremen. SUBMARINES WA~RNED~ OFF NORWAY (Rec. October 15, 5.5 p.m.) Chrlstlania, October 14. Submarines belonging to belligerents have been forbidden to voyage in Norwegian territorial waters, after October 20. They will be allowed to tako rofuge thither in hard weather, in order to save life, provided they remain on the surface and fly their respective flags, and quit immediately reason for entering has ceased.

steamer Rigel (belonging in tho'Mediterranean. The Rigel is an old ox-merchantman of 4500 tons, built in 1899. THE OUTRAGE ON DUTCH NEUTRALITY ("The Times.") (Rec. October 14, 3.5 p.m.) London, Ootober 15. The Dutch Government has sent an urgent message to Berlin requesting an. immediate explanation of the sinking of the Bloomersdyk, and pointing out that tho nation is gravely disturbed by the unintelligible act of hostility, and needs reassurances. . The correspondent adds: "Hollands believes that the sinking of the vessel was due to a strong, current of opinion in Germany in favour of more ruthless ; submarine warfare." '. \ The Captain's Story. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. (Rec. October 15, 5 5 p.m.) Rotterdam, Ootober 14. A report from tho owners of the Bkpmcrsdyk (torpedoed by a German submarine) states that the captain informed U53 that the.Bloomersdyk was neutral, loaded with grain from the United States and Holland. The 'submarine captain replied: "I am under orders to sink any ship bound by way of an English port." He gave them' twenty-five minutes to leave the ship. The Dutch Government announces that Germany will disavow tho action of the commander of TJS3 in sinking tho Bloomersdyk,, and promises compensation for the loss of the ship and cargo. BRITISH MINISIErIn HUN PIRACIES (Rec. October 15, 5.6 p.m.) /New York, October 13. Lord Robert Cecil (Minister of Blockades), interviewed in London, said that the British torpedoing in United States waters was illegal. .No real provision for the safety of passengers had been made, in so far ap they, could not place a ship in a position assuring their safe arrival in port. "The Germans make no pretence of living up to the law forbidding torpedoing without warning." . ,