LUSITANIA TORPEDOED AND SUNK.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XL, Issue 12538, 8 May 1915, Page 5

LUSITANIA TORPEDOED AND SUNK.

PASSENGERS SAVED. [By Electric Telegeaph—Copybight.J (Pee Pbess Association.j New York, May 7. The Lusitania, carrying 1300 passengers, has been torpedoed and sunk off Kinsale, Ireland. Assistance has been sent. Received. May 8, at 10.55 a.m. New York. May 7. A despatch printed here says that the Lusitania was beached, and that the passengers and crew are safe. Received May 8, at 9.10 a.m. London, May 7. The Cimard Company state that a .submarine sunk the Lusitania off Oldhead, Kinsale, at 2.30. FATE OF PASSENGERS NOW UNCERTAIN. Received May 8, at 12 noon. New York, May 7. It is now stated that it is uncertain as to whether all were saved. Received May 8, at 11.40 a.m. ■ London,. May 8. The Lusitania. has 290 first-class passengers, 662-second class, and 361 third class, with'-a crew of 665. New York, May 7. There are fears that not all the 'passengers arc safe. One account says that the vessel sunk in 21 minutes .after she was struck without warning. Three hundred people have been j landed at Clonakilty. - j

Received Mav S, at 12.10 O.m. Louden, May B._ On leaving New York the captain, laughed at the German threats,- and said we arc too fast for them. After the vessel was torpedoed lie- sent a, wireless: "Come at'oiice, • big list; position ten miles from Kinsale." It. is believed that Mr Hearst, the millionaire, proprietor of tlie American pro-German 'newspapers, was aboard,' and also Mr Alfred Vanderbilt. Received May .8, at 0.25 p.m. London, May 7. The Cujiiird Company state that they have great hopes of saving many lives. A boatload of survivors is being towed to Kinsale. Received. May 8, at 1.55 p.m. London, May 9. Twenty of the Lusitahia's boats and. sixteen other boats were on the scene after the sinking of the vessel. The passengers include Charles Frohmati' (the great American actor-man-ager) and Sir Hugh' Lane (Director of the National Gallery, Ireland), who just offered Sargeaht £IO,OOO for the benefit of the Red Cress Fund if he would accept a commission to paint a portrait. Sergeant accept the record price. The Lusitania and her sister-ship the Maujetauia are the pride of the Cunai'd Company's fine fleet of. "Atlantic liners. Though registered iii England, the company contains a largo amount of American capital. The Lusitania embodied a great departure in palatial liners, being the first of the big vessels to utiiive the Parsons turbines. Her length was 79,0 feet and her beam 88, while she had a depth from top deck to keel of 80 feet. This size was achieved not so much with the. object of gaining cargo capacity as to ensure the comfort of passengers and an average speed of 25 knots iri moderate weather for 3000 miles, carrying sufficient coal for the voyage, though consuming 10U0 tons a- day. She had a displacement of 40,000 tons, and was capable of developing 68,000 horsepower. Full loaded, her draught was 371- feet. Besides the comforts provided by eight decks and sumptuous fittings, every precaution . was taken for'safety, and the vessel was built with a- bilge keel, a double bottom, and watertight bulkheads. The Lusitania held the Atlantic, record,, her best, time across being 5 days 7 hours on the outward voyage. The.Lusitania-.was built on the Clyde in 1907.

FIGHTING IN SOUTH AFRICA. Capetown. May 7. Official. —General Botha has occupied the railway junction at Uiribil and also the station's *;>t Johaiin Albrecht's Hohlt and Williclniistal. PITIFUL GAS PATIENTS. AN APPALLING SIGHT. Received May 8, at 8.20 'a:m. London, May 7. A correspondent who visited the gas victims found the patients propped up. Their faces, arms and hands are a. shiny, grey-black color, their' mouths are open, arid their eyes glazed. All are swaying backwards and forwards struggling lor breath. It is an appalling°sight. and practically nothing can be done bevond giving emetics. The gas hi Is the lungs with watery, frothy matter, which gradually increases until the lungs are filled and they die of suffocation. In a day or two hundreds died in the trenches and hall {hose reaching the hospital succumb. __ Without doubt, this is the most awiul form of scientific torture. THE GERMAN. HEEL, BELGIAN RED CROSS SUPPRESSED Received May B.' at 9.30 a.m. Paris, May 7. The. German general, von Biiessing, has suppressed the Belgian Red Cross and confiscated its funds because it refused to co-operate with the German ; authorities? iu proposed social 1 works, m Belgium.

A PACIFIC FLEET. ... London, May 7. Mr F.M.B. Fisher,' interviewed at Vancouver, and many people believed that the*""day had .come when Canada. '.Australia: rand -New Zealand should equip a fleeti sufficiently strong to protect their respectivo countries, relieving Britain of the responsibility, but _ all wished-to-make it perfectly clear tliat-all-the doriiiiriorjs agreed tliat Britain, s .wars"were their.wars.' LIQUOR AND THE WORKER.; TAXES WITHDRAWN. "■[ ■ I Received May 8, at'TL-lO a.m. ' ■ London, May 7; • As the "result of the negotiations with the liquor, trade Mr. Lloyd George has withdrawn his proposed taxes. Received 1 May 8,• at.1.00/p.m. Official.—The Government; has decided that instead of taxation .there shall be »- complete •■prohibition- of the sale of spirits. '•'..-'■■ ' '

. •' ' THE BjCOCKAfIE, Received : May Sr.a.t 9.10 a.m. London,' May 7. •A submarine sunk tlie steamer Candidate in the Irish. Sea without warning. One boat was swampedl The Germans ! dia--.ibt\a;ive any help, but air the crew were saved. . ' The steamer Centurion for Durban was torpedoed 30 miles off 'Tuskar,, on the Irish I 'coast. The crew of 45 was landed at Wexford. A HOLY WAR. Received May 7. at 9.30 p.m. Sydney, May 7. Speak in it -it :i service in memory of Colonel MacLauriu, the Rev. John Ferguson, referring to the heroism of the Australians at the Dardanelles, said he hoped'.that'the young men. of Australia would'move as never before in joining the great campaign for liberty ami honor, arid consider themselves as_ dedicated to "Christ's --service, for this was a holy, .war.