The Lusitania.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 286, 12 May 1915, Page 5

The Lusitania.

THE INQUEST VERDICT. Ml KY THE KAISER. London, May 10. j At the inquest on the Lusitania, CapI tain Turner gave evidence that when j approaching the danger zone the boats U'ere swung out, the bulkhead doors i closed, and lie slowed down to fifteen knots, the fastest pace possible owing to the haze. lie received a wireless message, including a warning that a submarine was oil' the Irish coast, lie carried out his special instructions. He saw tlie wake of a torpedo almost on tile surface. There was a second explosion, but it might have been internal. - Smoke and rose between ta« third and fourth fminek He ordered the boat* to be lowered to the rails, and the women and children wore placed aboard, lie ordered the engines to he stopped, but they were out of commission 1 . A verdict was returned of wilful wholesale murder against the Kaiser the German Government, and the submarine crew, DEMANDS OF AMERICA.

Kl'Gf; KSTIOXS OP REVEXGE. Washington, Mav 11 H is understood that President \\'ilson demands a pledge from Germany tliat she will abandon her methods of warfare contrary to modern civilisation and pay a full cash indemnity for every American lost in the Lusitania, Gulf Light, and Falaba. IT7 , Xew York, Mav 10. W hen reporters asked Count' BernstoriT whether he had considered what Americans would think, he replied:— Let them think," and with an oath told the chauffeur to drive oti. Washington 1 , .Mav 10. A suggestion that the United "states s.iouid f'lrnmny's interned ships in or die loss of the Lusitania n ! "' 1 ,( i ,« Mooted in the American ress of all shades of polities. Others piggcst that American wiir.shh., should w;T to conrny a " sl,i l>*™ which Aini.i nan passengers are sailin" to

( ount ttemstorir called on Mr. Bryan •i.'tl expressed regret that the events "f the war had caused the deaths of so in any Americans. Count Tiernstorir mention°nf H " S" n r. cr *' ltion avoided all Mention of tho Lusitama. h.mnfiw 7"*?" altowwV to ' that he does not intend to call ■ special session of Congress. This shows clearly tlmt the United States intends to avoid war with Germany as i?Emr St 1)C ° ona "' tpd bcfore ' wr

iron- Dernhnrg says that Germany J as justified in sinking the Lusitanm because she carried contraband oT war cus ™ s Thf ' aa a Sritißh auxili "y Z V issued ought to u ciT/V 7i 1 ,lpstr of tile Gulf Light was also justified.

THE ADMIRALTY'S ACTION.' STROXG FEELING IN ITALY. London, May 10. ;! :. Asquith, in reply to questions, ' , t ! crc was »° object in approaching of The TT Pgar ClCTman >'' s breaches Hague Convention unless they were prepared to take action. ' tw-t Clmrel " ll i,lformo(l questioners that it was premature to discuss the loss of tlie Lusitama, pending the inquiry. and it was impossible to disclose the naval dispositions along the coast. mint. F m ' ra if ys rMOOTCM inadequate f„r the supply of escorts for merchant or passenger ships. The Adsen? ti"' T Wi "? to ( ' orman )''s warning, sent the. Lusitama directions regarding fbl n C T S °' , Excc P tin K tbe TJusitania, the entire seaborne'trade had been conducted without any appreciable loss, -p exception had been made in the Lusitama s case, to the regular methods of safeguarding seaborne vessels J vi vfZ' s P pnkin 8 ift T.ondon, asUd what did the sinking of the Lusitama mean. It might mean that the Germans were simply running amuck and their deeds were those of desperate liK-ii. but he thought there was method filei lC t ncs ih Germany, having t.ti ed to secure the sympathy of noitals was determined to terrorise them Hie lusitama outrage will convince us that, not only the soldiers, but the whole nation is at war and every ounce of stiength must be directed to bringing the war to an end. , r , T . Kerne, Mn.v 10. I lie Lusitama incident has aroused intense anger in Italy. The Corriere <1 Italia and other Catholic organs deplore the shameful methods of warfare Aewspapers state that the (Pope is convinced that the Germans have proved utterly regardless of every law of humanity and morality.

WARNING TO AMERICA. MUST TRAVEL IN AMERICAN .SHIPS, Deceived May 11, 11 p.m. New York, May 11. llerr Dernberg, in n message to the American people, declares that Americans are only safe if they travel ii; American vessels not carrying contraband. An American ship with contraband will be torpedoed exactly the same us a British ship, except tlr.it tin attempt will be made to give a warning in time for the passengers and crew to escape. GERMANY BLAMES BRITAIN. VAULT OF THE ADMIRALTY. Received May 1!, 11 p.m. Amsterdam, May 11. 'The Berliner Tageblatt laments tli l hard fate of the Lusitania's victims, but claims that Germany is completely devoid of blame and hopes that upon calm retlection the world will pronounce a verdict of condemnation against the British Admiralty and Mr. Churchill, wlio.se conscienceless instructions must have been expected to bring a curse upon mankind. Count Rovcntlow says the disaster is the American Government's fault for not taking the Germany war >.enc declaration seriously.

A XFAY ZEAI.ANDHU SAVED. Auckland, May 11. Mr. S. ITanna, soil of Mr. Andrew ITanna, solicitor, who is goinjr Home tn enlist in company with Jack MacKay, and is presumed to have been a passenger on tlie Lusitania, has cabled to bis parents the one word, "Weill"

I THE SYMPATHY OF GERMANY, TIIE RESPONSIBILITY WITH "'I Britain. , j: Received May H, 4.30 p.m. Washington, May 10. '1 The German Foreign Office has aeqt 1 a wireless message to Washington ex- : pressing tin; deepest sympathy at fu> loss of Americana. The message statti ■. that the res])onsihility rested with' : Great Britain, as the Lusitania carried - Si(») eases of ammunition, and the mi',; of the cargo was chiefly contraband. - ''

ABSENCE OF AN ESCORT. >

SURVIVORS' BITTER COMPLAINTS,

LAUNCHING OP THE itOATS. \

ALLEGATIONS OP TROUBLE. !

Times and Sydney Sun Received May 11, 5.25 p.m. 1 . London, May JO. Stories from survivors from the Lusitania stress a number of facts calling for explanation. Despite the warning of the German Embassy at Washington tlie Lusitania had no naval escort. This is more than remarkable rhen it ia remembered that the submarine had already found victims in this part of the Atlantic.

Colic newspapers reported a submarule reconnoitring close inshore on I liursday. Observers on the land declare that fifteen minutes before the disaster a patrol boat passed the Lusitania and turned and followed her, while immediately after she sank another patrol boat darted up from the west. These statements directly conflict with tlie unanimous assertion of survivors that, though they felt cure that the navy was taking care of them, they saw no warships or a patrol boat before or after the sinking. The warship Juno passed over tho spot two hours earlier. The moment slie was moored at Queenstown she received the Lnsitania's call, and steamed out, but shortly returned, as many ofthe Admiralty tugs and small craft were swarming to tlie scene.

. Tile evidence is clear that the survivors wore without assistance for two hours. A survivor states that no si.iol-c was coming from the rearmost funnel and little from the next. Whether tho engineers were economising • coal in order to reduce the smoW tflttl or whether the slow speed was involuntary has not been ascertained. It is •• a most important point in view of the reliance placed on her Fipeedincfw. Jthers consider that the crew might have done .more, but mako allowances for the difficulties owing to the heavy ist. The fact remains that several boats were smashed, and swamped while - they were being lowered. No attempt was made .to lower others. '

A curious statement, independently made by two American passengers, IS that an order was received not to launch the boats. There was one case of passengers already in the boat, and they had to return to the deck. The narrator threatened to shoot anyone attempting to prevent a boat being lowered. j

Isaac .Jackson stated that an officer ordered several to quit the swung ont boats where they were awaiting events and shouted that there was no danger! Apparently the officers believed tho Lusitania would not sink because she ceased to lied.

The Cuban Consul came ashore at (Jueenstown accompanied by an athletic lady in sailor's trousers and a jumper Hct swimming powers had saved her life, but her husband was drowned. A lady passenger pays a tribute to Mr. Vanderbilfs gallantry. He devoted himself with his valet to collecting and placing children in the boats from the sinking Lusitaniir.

BITTER WORDS ON GERMANY. " A. VENOMOUS PEST." London, May 10. The : Tilnes, in a leader, says: '• There can he no division of the guilt. The purpose of the German Kaiser, the Government, and the people was wholesale murder and nothing else, not only of non-combatants, as Germany knew full well, out of many citizens of friendly neutral nations. There is a presumption t&at the Lusitania did not receive special naval protection. 'Doubtless Germany is gloating over the appalling deed, after due advertisement. It is not for us to speculate as to the course which Americans should adopt now they are confronted with this monstrous crime, which concerns them as closely as ourselves, and we shall not seek to accentuate their heavy responsibility. I lie act is in the same category as the wanton murderous outrages, sacking of towns, the cold-blooded slaughter of innocents, the outraging of thousands of helpless women and girls, and the unnumbered acts of bestiality, robbery and torture committed without a protest from neutrals This grievous act will assuredly hasten the day when every civilised Power will lie constrained to join to brand with eternal infamy tuia lshumeHte among the nations." The Daily Mail says: "There is one word for such infamy. It is not an act of war, but sheer cowardly murder. The Americans and ourselves have still to Jearn that the Cicrman foe is free from all restraints of humanity. The stabbing, slashing, trampling homicidal maniac does not respect the laws of God or man. lie has the wild cunning of a beast broken loose, and must be caught and killed before the peace and security of the world can he ensured. Ihe 'premeditation of the latest atrocity merely adds to its fiendish character. AVe do not address words of imI pertinent counsel to Americans, but offer our profoundest sympathy. At such times tlie kinship of the Knglish-speak-i"g races is unmistakably manifest. We' share their indignation, loathing and contempt of the assassins and promise, so fur as it is in our power, that the deaths ot .Americans shall be avenged. \\e shall suffer much and shall lose thousands of men and possibly scores of ships m crushing this brood of vipers into impotence. In the end, please God we shall have cleansed the world of a venomous pest."