SINKING OF THE LUSITANIA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 8, 10 May 1915, Page 5

SINKING OF THE LUSITANIA.

TWO TORPEDOES PIERCED HER SIDE. , / * _I _ STORIES OF THE SURVIVORS. ■ !; vr, , E !j 1 . ■ ■„ ■ ■ 1 I United Pkebb Association. (Received 8.40 a.m.) London, May 9. The voyage was pleasant and uneventful. Nobody believed Germany would dare to outrage civilisation by the destruction of the liner, which was full of non combatants, many being citizens of nations with which Germany was . at peace. After passing Fastnet, the 1 Lusitania was slowed down and the boats were swung out, and as a precaution a sharp look-out was kept. Full speed was ordered when off Kinsale. The first torpedo entered the stokehold, causing a terrific explosion, followed by another. The second torpedo sent up great columns of water and a huge quantity of wood splinters on deck. , > , A - boat containing thirty passengers tilted in the sea owing to the rope sticking. Altogether, ten boats were successfully launched. SEVERAL PROMINENT AMERICANS PERISH. • Vanderbilt is considered to be among the dead. Frohman’s body has been recovered. F. S. Peargon, American financier perished. . Survivors, while in the boats,- saw the periscope of a submarine after the Lusitania foundered. AGONISED SCENE ON THE'DECK OF THE LINER. Mr F‘ Gauntlet!, Washington, being interviewed, said he quitted a boat which was being lowere I and swam to a piece of wreckage. This proved to be a collapsible boat, and ripping it open with his knife, he and another passenger entered, and both were enabled to rescue thirty people who-were struggling in the water. He noticed a cluster of women and children under some men’s protection on the Lusitania’s port side, and as the vessel plunged (he little army slid down to the starboard side, dashing against each other until they were engulfed. There are forty-four American survivors. SUBMARINES SEEKING THEIR PREY. I)r. Moore, an American, said: “At one o’clock, I saw a submarine’s conning tower on the nort side appearing and disappearing, and altering her speed to that of the Lusitania, which, meanwhile, was zig-zagging at a speed of eighteen knots. Presently, the submarine disappeared, and the Lusitania ceased to zig-zag. We sat at lunch and about two o’clock heard a muffled drum-like noise from forward. The ship trembled and began to list to starboard. Fnless the first submarine had been able to run rings round the Lusitania, there must have been a second submarine hidden on the starboard side. I heard no second explosion. There was general excitement in the second saloon, which was soon quitted, and by the time 1 reached the deck, tin 1 list of the vessel made walking difficult. Most of the passengers wen v t on to the promenade deck, and within a few minutes the rail was only twelve feet above the water. The stewards struggled to the promenade deck under a load of lifebelts, the ship settling how first.'’ I)r. Moore entered a boat and got clear. The boat leaked, 'and they bailed it out with their hats, but it/sank. Many rails were afloat, and these saved a large number. MAGNIFICENT COURAGE AND DISCIPLINE. All accounts state there was no panic, and that the passengers and crew showed magnificent courage and discipline. Ihe passengers firmly believed the shin would not sink, especially as after the first heelin'- H l W not listed further. One passenger sta(„j that eight boats were hanf, g over the side when she sank.

BY A MEMBER OF THE CREW. VESSEL DIVED LIKE A DUCK. (Received 9.>55 a.m.) London, May 9. .Tolni Davis, a member of‘ the crew, said they had a splendid voyage to the coast. The ship was going at half speed near Fastnet, owing to the fog, and then increased to sixteen knots, and full.. speed was rung for at 2.5. The vessel zig-zagged, and there was an explosion, which almost immediately struck the bunker, all the divisions being rent and the coal scattered in all directions. The ship finally stood on end and dived like a duck. The boilers exploded, and the funnel was blown out. LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE ACTION. United Pufbb Association. (Received 8.50 a.m.) London, May 9. A meeting of members of the Louden Stock Exchange decided to forcibly refuse admission to German members. AMERICANS TURN DOWN IKE GERMANS. (Received 8.50 1 m Washington May 9. At the opening of the Horse Show, visitors protested against girls soiling “Kaiser Bloom,” the German national flower, and several trampled on the flowers and ejected the sellers. BOYCOTT THE GERMAN.

(Received 8.50 a.m.) Paris, Ma 9. Mr Showinger, ex-Presideut of the American Chamber of Commerce, being interviewed, said the Chamber would consider reprisals by boycotting everything German. FEELING OF HORROR THROUGHOUT INDIA. (Received 8.50 a.m.) Semla, May 9. The use of gases caused indignation throughout India, but the loss of the Lusitania has roused an indescribable feeling of horror. PREMEDITATED TRAGEDY. (Received 8.50 a.m.) New York, May 9. Count Bernstoff’s warning to the passengers on the Lusitania re-appear-ed in the newspapers. Many people at Washington received letters from officials in Germany asserting that Friday was fixed to destroy the Lusitania. FRIGHTENED OF DISABLED SHIP Amsterdam, May 9. German newspapers state that as the Lusitania was armed it was impossible for the submarine to rescue the passengers. GERMANY’S EXCUSE. (Received 8.50 a.m.) Berlin, May 9. Official.—As soon as the Government learned that the Lusitania was carrying such extensive contraband as to give the Allies sufficient material for several weeks, it was resolved to torpedo the vessel, as all other considerations must yield to the safety of the German soldiers. It is hoped the torpedoer will rescue the passengers where possible.

UNITED STATES UNLIKELY TO ACT. I (Received 8.40 a.in.) Washington, May 9. Senators who are closely in touch with President Wilson, assert there is no chance of the United States making war against Germany. For one reason, the United States is unable to despatch an army to Europe, and for another, the United States’ navy would find nothing to do owing to the British bottling up the German fleet. Senator Borah asserted that when Americans were killed and robbed in Mexico, the United States regarded it calmly, and it is unlikely, therefore, she will do anything in face of a similar occurernce in the case of the Lusitania. New York, May 9. There is much depression throughout the city. The American liner, Philadelphia, departed for Europe, her cabins being full. Count Bernstoff hid in a hotel, and guards were placed at the door, RIOT IN LIVERPOOL. (Received 9.45 a.rn.) London, May 9. A number of German shops in Liverpool were wrecked, and twenty rioters arrested at Everton. Comrades endeavored to effect a rescue, but the I police dispersed them with buttons. WOMEN’S EXTRAORDINARY ESI CAPE. I A lady had an extraordinary escape from the Lusitania. She was thrown into the sea and had given up hope when she was suddenly drawn down the funnel. The tremendous rush of

air shut her out and she toll in one of the boats, being severely injured.

THE WORLD’S PRESS COMMENT. (Received 8.30 a.in.) ! London. .May 9. The French, Dutch and Danish newspapers outspokenly denounce the callous warfare against humanity. The Journal des Debats asks whether Germany is not seeking to set the whole world against her with a view to finding an excuse for inevitable capitulation. | Swedish papers express unanimous condemnation. Even the Gerrnanophile organ, “Xyadagligt,” at Alexandria, stigmatises the sinking of the great liner simply because of the/ British as an unpardonable crime, which will evoke a cry of horror and indignation throughout the civilised world, j, Norwegian papers express destestation of the crime. The Morgeublad says: The Germans meant to terrify, and they terrified their friends, and terror breeds hate. German trade will feel this keenly, especially in America when the war is over, i Berne, May 9. The sinking of the Lusitania was .welcomed with great joy in Germany and Austria.. The Rhine towns were beflagged, it is stated the Kaiser ordered the school-children to have a halfholiday. | The majority of the German papers do not express regret at the piracy 'and do not mention the danger to wo!men and children. They add that as the Americans were fonvarned of the risks of the voyage, they must bear the consequences of war conditions. The Berliner Tageblatt says: The Lusitania was an auxiliary cruiser, having more strongly mounted guns and manned than any German, therefore, they must have been prepared for attack. “PRE-ARRANGED MURDER." APPEAL FOR RELIEF FUNDS. (Received 9.35 a.m.) London, May 9. The Lord Mayor of Dublin, in issuing an appeal for a relief fund, says:— "The staggering news of the pre-ar-ranged murder of hundreds of innocent passengers came as an unprecedented shock to the whole civilised world, which stands dazed and horror-stricken before the stupendous atrocity. This monstrous, dastardly crime knocks at the heart of every individual.”

INQUEST OPENED AND ADJOURNED. (Received 9.30 a.in.) London, May 9. An inquest on one of the victims has opened at Queenstown. The coroner remarked that it was a case of a powerful warlike, engine attacking an ! unarmed passenger vessel without warning. The inquest was adjourned. AUSTRALIAN PRESS COMMENT. li~ s ' , , ~ ; (Received 10.10 a.m.) . Sydney, May 10. The Herald, in a leader, says: “The sinking of the Lusitania is none the less a murder because it must he attributed to a Government and not to an individual. One result of the progress of science in Germany has been to arm her soldiers with a weapon crueller than any in the annals of warfare. Once the scale of war turned against them, find a nation, which sets itself above every law and humane instinct, has all mankind for enemies.” The Telegraph, in a leader headed “The Crime of the Age,” says: “The Germans openly flouted the moral sense of the whole world. Probably they had come to the conclusion that the present Government of the United States would never declare war with Germany, no matte]' what outrages she commits, and therefore had no solicitude for Americans abroad. The world will not bo satisfied, nor the principles of external justice until the authors of this deed are brought to trial to supremo punishment for the crime of wilful murder.”