Untitled

Taranaki Daily News, 28 March 1916, Page 4

HUN PIRACY AND MURDER. Of late there lias been a recrudescence of Hun /rightfulness on the high seas, and as the result of this campaign of piracy and murder a number of lives of peaceful citizens have been sacrificed, together with the ships on which they were sailing. On the Sussex there were 380 passengers, of whom, it is stated, sixty-nine were landed at Dover. It seems marvellous that this vessel, although being one-third blown away by the explosion of the torpedo, was able to keep afloat for some time owing to the strength of her watertight compartments, and it was fortunate that among the passengers were several nurses who, were able to attend to the many shocking cases of injury. The scene on board when the terrible explosion and upheaval occurred can better be imagined than described. It was a great blessing :hat the boilers were not put out of action so that the electric light robbed the disaster of its worst feature—darkness. As American citizens were among the victims we may look for another note of the sterotyped form, and a further outcry from the American press, but the civilised world and the Germans are so accustomed to tha formula that it has become monotonous. The massacre is one that will evoke as deep indignation as that of the Lusitania, and adds another to the long list of horrors committee by the Huns. It cannot fail to convince the Admiralty of the need for increased activity in destroying German submarines, especially as she has intimated the inauguration of a complete blockade of Britain by destroying the shipping of all nations. Neutrals are already taking alarm, but the Huns will rejoice over such a sign of success for their frightfulness. There is reason for much satisfaction at the fate of the Grief, which is described as a sister ■hip to the Moewe. It is, however, quite within the bounds of possibility that the Grief and the Moewe may he identical. Thanks to the Alcantara that masquerading marauder is now at the bottom of the sea, safe from perpetrating further mischief. In doing this great service the Avant.ua was also sunk, but her explot covers her officers and crew with glory. The prompt and resourceful action c; the captain of the Alcantara is well worthy of the best traditions of the British navy, -and shines forth like ■x brilliant gleam of sunlight through dense clouds of oppressing gloom. We ire now experiencing the full force of Teutonic desperation, and though it will lot affect the final issue of the war, we must be prepared for fiendish acts that will horrify the world. The British Government may be relied upon to do all in their power to minimise the evil, ami for the rest, patience and courage.