davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The midland journal., 1915-05-14
CRUSADE ONLY BEGUN,
DECLARES DERNsURc.

New YOrk.-Dr. Bernard DeTnburg.
former Minister,of Colonies of the Ger
man Empire. and regarded in this coun-
try as the Kaiser's spokesman, says
that Germany had only begun her
deadly crusade against Great Britain's
commerce, and that the sinking of the
Lusitania would be followed by the de-
struction of other British ships,
whether or not there were Americans
aboard.
The American flag. he said, would
afford not the slightest protection for
vessels which carried cargo that the
Germans regarded contraband. He
added that even parts Of flying ma
chimes, automobile accessories and cot
ton we're now considered contraband
by the German Admiralty. Finally,
DR.. Dernburg said:
ANY ship carrying goods to- Great
Britain is to be sunk. England has
cut of Germany from the outside
world, and we intend to isolate her in
like manner, SO that all communities
ton with other parts Of the earth will
be impossible"
The midland journal., 1915-05-14
Diseipiine Below standard.
BERLIN PUTS ALL BLAME
ON cuNARD LINE OWNERS

Berlin.-The following official com
munication was issued here:
"The Cunard liner Lusitania was
yesterday torpedoed by German sub
marine and sunk.
'The Lusitania was naturally armed
with guns, as were recently most Of
the English mercantile steamers.
Moreover. as is well known here. she
had large quantities of war material
In her cargo.
"IIer owners. therefore. knew to
what danger the passengers were ex-
posed. They alone bear all the re-
sponsibility for what has happened.
Germany. on her part. left nothing
undone to repeatedly warn them. The
Imperial Ambassador in Washington
went SO far as to make public warn
ing, so as to draw attention to this
danger. The English press sneered
then at thewarning and relied on the
protection Of the British feet to safe
guard Atlantic trafic."
The midland journal., 1915-05-14
JAPAN DEFENDS
HER POSITION
Why She insisted on Her De-
mands Upon China.
lNSURES PERMANENT PEACE
The Foreign Office Finally Breaks Its
Long Maintained siIence-Pro-
tects Japan Against Ger
man Encroachment.

Neutrality-suspicious. rigidly main
tanned by the Japanese Embassy here
throughout the long course of negotia-
tions over Japan's demands upon
China was broken by issuance of
statement prepared by tie Foreign
Office at Toxic outlining the Japanese
governments reasons for submitting
demands at this time ans reviewing
the various stages of the negotiations
at Peking.
Since this statement was written
Japan has presented an ultimatum re-
sulting in China's acceptance OF a
revised draft of the demands and the
averting Of a great crisis in the Far
East. AS accepted the draft elimi-
mates or puts aside for future con-
sideration some of the demands most
Objectionable to China, and it is uIf-
derstood to contain no features which
officials of the United States govern
ment regarded as contravening Amert-
can treaty rights.
"The imperial government have, in
the proposals lately presented to the
Chinese government" says the Japa-
lese statement, made 1t their main
object to adjust matters relating to
and to meet the new situation created
by the war between Japan and Ger
many to strengthen the friendly re-
lations subsisting between Japan and
China and thus to insure permanent
peace in the Orient. They, in formu-
lating these proposals, have taken
special care to avoid those which
might be deemed to conflict with the
principles of territorial integrity,
equal opportunity and the open door,
which Japan had occasion time and
again to declare to the powers.
Accordingly, these proposals In
clude among others those relating to
the disposition of the German rights.
in the province of Shantung, those re-
lating to the recognition of special
position and interests which Japan
possesses in South Manchuria and in
eastern Inner Mongolia, those relating
to the solution of various questions
which have for years been pending be-
tween the Japanese and the Chinese
governments"
The midland journal., 1915-05-14
.LUS|TAN|A'S DEATH LIST, 1886
rs OF THESE WERE AMERICANS
Big Cmad Liner, With 2,OG Hen And Women Aboard
TapedOed Without Warning Survivors Reach Shore
Some Landed At Queenstown Die In Hospitals.

one attacking from the port and the
other from the starboard side. Id
The British Government made the
following announcement:
THE statement appearing in some
newspapers that the. LusitaniR was
armed is wholly false"
Given Mo Warning.
The LusitaniR was steaming along
about 10, miles OF Old Head Kinsale,
on the last leg of her voyage to Liver
pool, when, about o'clock in the af-
ternoon. a submarine suddenly ap-
peared. and so far as ali reports go,
fired two torpedoes without warning
at the steamer. One struck her near
the bows and the other in the engine
room. The powerful agents of de-
struction tore through the vessels
side, causing terrific explosions. Al
most Immediately great volumes Of
water poured through the openings
and the Lusitania listed
Boats which were already swung
cut on the davits were dropped over
board and were speedily filed with
passengers who had been appalled, by
the desperate attack. A wireless call
for help was sent out and Immediately
reseue boats of all kinds were sent
ont both from the neighboring points
along the coast and Queenstown.
But within is minutes, as one sur
vivor estimated. and certainly within
half an hour, the Lusitania had dis.
appeared.
The midland journal., 1915-05-14
NEWS sTARTLEs WILSON.
Whether Any American Lives Were
Lost, His First conoern-seere-
tary Bryan Awaits Facts.

Lost, HE First conoern-seere-
tary Bryan Awaits Facts.
Washington. .-Destruction Of the
British liner Lusitania, with the loss
Of many lives, shocked officials of the
United States government and spread
profound grief in the national capital
Although it was not known how
many, if any. of those lost we're Anaefi-
cans, the view was general that the
most serious situation confronted the
American government since the out
break of the war in Europe.
The warning of the United States
that Germany would be held to 3
''strict accountability" for the loss of
American lives" irrespective of
whether they were aboard belIigerent
or neutral vessels when attacked
focused attention on the White
House, where President Wilson until
late In the night read the dispatches
with grave interest. The President
made no comment.
officials said facts and circum-
stances would have to be obtained by
careful investigation during the next
few days before any announcement
could be made by the American gov
ernment.
The midland journal., 1915-05-14
vANDERBlLT DIES HERO.
Gives Up Place in Boat To Woman
With a Little Child.

Liverpool = All reports received
here agree that all the Americans on
board the Lusitania displayed the
greatest heroism. It is said that
Alfred G. Vanderbilt could have been
saved. but gave up his place in boat
to q woman with q little baby.
Another American who distinguished
himself was Major r. Warren Pearl.
of New York. He took leading part
in helping to quell the panic that de.
veloped when it became known the
liner had been torpedoed.
The Lusitania's officers and sailors
never fiinched in the face OF death.
According to the list OF survivors
made up here, only one out of every
eight sailors escaped.
The midland journal., 1915-05-14
cApTAlN SANK, RESCUED.
Commander Went Down With His
ship, But Later Picked Up.

ship, But Later Picked Up.
Queenstown Captain Turner, COM
mander Of the Lusitania, has refused
so far to make any formal statement.
His first remark on landing was one
of quiet irony.
"Wen." he said. ''it is the fortune
of war"
Captain Turner remained on the
Lusitania's bridge until the structure
was submerged and then climbed up
ladder, as would diver from a tank
When he reached the surface he
grasped an oar and then chair. He
clung to chair for nearly two hours
and finally, when the chair turned
over. he flung up gold-braided arm.
This was seen by member of the
crew in one of the boats and thus the
commander was saved.
The midland journal., 1915-05-14
FIRST TRANSATLANTIC
VICTIM.

The Cunard Liner Lusitania
was torpedoed and sunk OF the
coast OF ireland. ten miles south
Of Kfnsale.
The vessel carried 1888 pas
sengers, Of which 18S were
American citizens.
Officials OF the Cunard Line
In London announced that the
ship had been torpedoed without
any warning.
Reports indicate that the Lust
tania sank fifteen minutes after
being struck.
1t was the Lusitania, whose
flying Of the American flag last
February on her way from
Queenstown to Liverpool. IN or
der to protect her against Ger
man submarines, that caused
considerable astonishment on
both sides Of the ocean.
Washington is expected to
make strong representations 10
Germany as q result of the tor
pedoing of the Lusitania with
out warning.
The Lusitania's cargo WAS
valued at about $75O.O00 and con-
tanned a large quantity of war
supplies. Her manifest included
100000 pounds OF brass and cop
per wire, $4,000 worth Of mill
tary goods and 5,471 cases Of
ammunition valued at $200.024,
all of which was centraband Of
war. The ship itself. Cunard
officials said. was covered by
{ $1,000, 900 war, risk insurance.
The midland journal., 1915-05-14

Ardmore, Okla--Three persons were
injured and much property damaged
here by heavy windstorm. 1t was
reported that Wilson, Okla. near here.
was hit by storm which blew down
40 buildings, but that no one was seri-
ously injured there. Winds OF almost
tornado proportions were reported
over a wide section of Southern Okla
homa
At Ringing. Okla. church was re-
ported blown down. but no one was
seriously injured.
The midland journal., 1915-05-14
Capture Of 1000 Reported.
srItlsh Flrn on Ypres LIne.

London.-Field Marshal Sir John
French, commanderin-chief Of the
British forces, sends the following re
port of the operations on the western
line: .
"The enemy continued his attacks
east of Ypres and made further at
tacks, which have all been repulsed
with heavy losses. Our line there is
firmly established.
"Our first army attacked the enemy's
line between Bois. Grenier and Festu-
bert and gained ground south and east
toward Fornelles. The fighting in this
area continues.
The midland journal., 1915-05-14
U. S. OFFICIALS
MAKE INQUIRY
Consul Frostand Attaches Inter-
view Survivors.
DR.. FISHER BLAnEs LINE
Brother OF Former Secretary OF In.
terror Says Neither Discipline Nor
Precautions Were Up To the
Standard.

Wesley Frost, United
States Consul at Cork, is obtaining
afhdayits concerning all the material
facts Of the torpedoing Of the Cunard
liner Lusitania from Miss Jessie Taft
Smith, Of Bracevilie, onio; III. now
ard Fisher. Of New York. and Robert
Rankin, of New York
These survivors will cable to the
State Department at Washington about
800 words each.
Captains Miller and Cassel, at
taches of the American Embassy in
London, arrived here and conferred
with Consul Frost.
No Hope For Missing.
Most of the survivors are leaving
Queenstown. There is little hope here
that additional survivors will be found.
Representatives of the Pearson fam
| lily claimed the body of DR.. r. s. Pear
SON. They also visited the morgues
searching for the body of Mrs. Pear
son. who is missing.
Marine Superintendent Dodd of the
Cunard Line declared that he had lit
tie hope that any survivors would turn
up at isolated parts along the coast.
He believed that the death list would
remain about the same as had been
estimated.
The only problem now was to
identify some of the dead in the
morgues. The body Of ]. C. Brodrick
had been falsely tagged in the morgue
as that Of the purser of the Lusitania.
mo J.. c. Brodrick appears on the pas
senger list, although a c. T. Brode-
rick. of Boston. was in the FIRST cabin
of the Lusitania.)
Injured survivors of the Lusitania
are reported to be progressing. Among
the volunteer doctors none has been
more busy than Dr. Fisher, who was
rescued after being in the water three
hours.
Or. Fisher Treats injured.
DR.. Fisher now numbers among his
patients Lady Mackworth, of Cardiff,
who is suffering from the result of be-
| ing a long time in the water; Lady
Allan, of Montreal, who has a broken
collar-bone, and DR.. Fishers sister-in-
law, Miss Dorthy Conner, who also is
a cousin of Henry L. Stimson, ex-Sec-
retafy Of War of the United States.
| Miss Conor was standing beside
Lady Mackworth when they were flung
into the water as the ship keeled over.
Both women were provided with life
belts and were picked up when at the
point of exhaustion.
Dr. Fisher, who is brother of Wal
ter L. Fisher, formerly Secretary Of
the Interior OF the United States, was
on his way to Belgium for Red Cross
duty. His story follows:
ut is not true that those on board
were unconcerned over the possibility
of being torpedoed. took the big
liner to save time and also because in
case of floating mine felt she would
have more chance of staying up. But
like everybody else aboard felt sure
in case Of being torpedoed that we
would have ample time to take to the
boats.
Discipline Below Standard.
81 do not know what case is being
made out for the Cunard people. but
l cannot say that either discipline or
precautions were up to the standard. .
The midland journal., 1915-05-14
TAET DEFERs ro WILSON.
Confident President VIII Follow
Wise and Patriotic Course

Milwaukee The news OF the sink
ing Of the Lusitania is most distress
ing" said former President Taft ON his
arrival here from Madison. ''It pre-
sents situation of the most difficult
character, properly awakening great
national concern. do not wish 20
embarrass the President or the Ad-
ministration by a discussion Of the
subject at this stage of the informa-
tion except to express confidence that
the President win follow . wise and
patriotic course"
The midland journal., 1915-05-14
GERMANY GAVE TIMELY
WARNING.

Advertisement That Showed They Had
Planned This Would Be the Lusi-
tania's Last Voyage.
New York.-Just prior to the sail
ing Of the Lnsitania' the German EN-
bassy had warned persons against go
ing abroad, because Of the dangers
from submarines. and the Following
advertisement was inserted in Ameri-
can newspapers:
The midland journal., 1915-05-14
.MEANs 10 EMsRoIL AMERlcA..

London.--'.1 think the Lusitania has
been torpedoed deliberately for the
purpose OF making the United States
declare war" said Lord Charles
Beresford. II foretold the whole pres
emit situation in February and gave
my reasons for thinking Germany
meant to bring America into the war"
The midland journal., 1915-05-14
Hungary Clear. says Vienna.

Vienna, via London.--Th Austrian
War Office made public the following
official communication:
"Our troops pursuing the enemy
have crossed the Carpathian ridge and
the frontier. Hungary is now free
from the enemy"
The midland journal., 1915-05-14
10 TRAwLERs sLowN UP.

Five Others Sunk BY German Sub
marines Since Sunday.
London.-To the nine trawlers, the
sinking of which by German sub
marines was reported Wednesday. an
other victim was added A Norwegian
steamer landed Thursday the crew OF
the trawler Sceptre, which was tor
pedoed 40 miles on Peterhead- This
brings the total number of trawler
victims of German underwater boats
since Sunday up 70 is. The sub
marines seem to be making deter
mined effort TO prevent English from
procuring Ssh in the North SEA.
The midland journal., 1915-05-14
AID TO SOUTHERN CHURCHES UP

Methodist Extension Board Discusses
Plans.
st. Louis.--An executive session to
discuss plans for aiding churches in
the Southern States was held here by
the Church Extension Board of the
Methodist Episcopal Church South.
The report Of the Rev. w. F. McMur-
ray. corresponding secretary, showed
a capital fund in the hands of the
board of $s71, 200, an increase of $11O.-
600 during the last year. The total
receipts last year we're $685., 900. The
College OF Bishops took part in the
deliberations of the board
The midland journal., 1915-05-14
TMPERIAL GERMAN
EMBASSY ,sass

The big Cunard greyhound was COM
manded by Capt. w. r. Turner, of
the British Royal Navy reserve, with
Capt. =. c. Anderson acting as his star
officer. Both were rated as the best
seamen in the transatlantic trade, dar-
ing yet cautious.
Captain Turner and other officials
Of the great liner did not fear any
trouble from submarines upon the
Lusitania's present trip. They laugh
ed at the German warning and en-
couraged the passengers, telling them
that the express steamer would be
met in the Atlantic by British war
ships and escorted safely into port.
When Captain Turner'S attention
was called to the German warning, he
said:
81 wonder what the Germans will
be up to next? It doesn't look as II
they had scared many people with
their warning, according 20 the looks
Of things on the pier and our pas
senger list"
The midland journal., 1915-05-14


Department from Consul Frost, at
Queenstown. places the total survivors
Of the Lusitania at GAS. Probably
1900 bodies have not been recovered.
The persons not listed, the depart
Ment reports. are almost to GER
tainty dead"
The latest estimate of lives lost as
result of the torpedoing Of the Cun-
ard liner Lusitania BY o German sub
marine of the Irish coast is 1856. 1t
II believed that almost all. il not all,
the survivors have been brought
ashore, and there is little hope Of re-
covering any other passengers alive.
Among the well-known Americans
whose bodies have not been recovered,
and whose consequently are believed
to have perished, are Alfred Gwynne
Vanderbilt, Charles Klein. the play
wright; Justus Miles Forman and El-
bert Hubbard and his wife.
The body of Charles Frohman, Of
New York, the theatrical producer, al
ready has been recovered and brought
ashore at Queenstown. The hospitals
Of Queenstown are niled with the In
jured among the survivors and the
morgues with the dead recovered from
the sea.
Bodies OF Women and Children
Brought In.
OF the dead many are women. The
stories from Queenstown describe the
bringing In OF the bodies of great
number OF women, many of them still
unidentified. The Queenstown docks
are the temporary resting places also
Of the bodies OF several children One
dead mother still is clasping in her
rigid arms the body Of her 3-month-
old baby.
When the Lusitania left New York
May /. she had on board 1901 souls,
1.251 passengers and $50 crew. The
passengers were made up Of 291 in the
nrst cabin, 5S9 In the second and 361
in the steerage. The list of survivors
shows SO far that about 80 Arst-class
and rs sec0nd-class passengers were
saved. The first cabin passengers
were at lunch when the unheralded
German attack sent the liner to the
bottom. It Is noticeable that COM
paratively few hrst-class passengers
were saved.
Judging from the recitals Of sur
vivors there was comparatively little
panic on board the Lusitania when she
went down. Nor is there anything to
show that the rule Of the sea favoring
women and children in the work Of
rescue was violated Many of the
liners lifeboats were rendered useless
by the fact that she listed so sharply
that they could not be used.
Did Not Think She Could Sink.
Many of the passengers did not be-
neve the LusitaniA would sink as
quickly as she did. Consequently they
did not join In the rush for the life
boats. but evidently preferred to trust
in their belief that the water-tight
compartments OF the vessel would
keep her afioat until such time as help
came out from the Irish shore less
than 10 miles away. It Is related that
come Of the passengers even disdained
to put on life belts when these were
handed to them.
Either two or three torpedoes struck
ne Lusitania- One report says the
arst projectile was followed by two
others striking IN quick succession.
Another report has It that two sub.
maEines took part IN the onslaught.
The midland journal., 1915-05-14
SINGLE TlLL y, He weos NURSE
Relative OF James c. Blaine Bride OF
WashIngtonian.

Philadelphia-William E. Barker,
II years old. of Washington. and Miss
Mary Victoria Blaine. AZ years old, e
distant relative Of the late James G.
Blaine. former Secretary of State. werA
married here. Miss Blaine was Mr..
Barkers nurse and they had known
one another for about four years.
The midland journal., 1915-05-14
NOTICE.

Travellers intending TO embark
on the Atlantic voyage are re-
minded that a state OF war exists
between Germany and her allies
and Great Britain and her allies;
that the zone of war includes the
waters adjacent to the British
Isles; that in accordance with
formal notice given by the Ina
perial German government yes-
sells flying the flag of Great Britain
or any Of her allies are liable to
destruction in those waters, and
that travellers sailing in the war
zone on ships Of Great Britain or
her allies do so at their own risk.
(Signed) s
The midland journal., 1915-05-14
HERoisM DISPLAYED.
WHEN SHIP WENT DOWN.

Queenstown. One Of the most re-
markable escapes from the Lusitania
was that OF r. J. Timmis, of Gaines
vile, Texas, who was returning to
England for his yearly visit. accom-
panied by his friend, r. T. Noodles,
also Of Gainesville Both men gave
their life belts to steerage women just
as the Lusitania sank. Timmis, who
Is strong swimmer, remained in the
water. clinging to various objects, for
nearly three hours Then he was
taken into boat. which he still had
the strength to assist in rowing.
The boat began picking up all those
showing signs of life, and the first per-
son rescued was the half-conscious
steerage woman to whom Timmis had
given his life belt Noodle sank when
the ship went under and, although a
good swimmer. was not seen again.
Noodle was ready to jump when Tim
mis-, who previously had given his belt
to a woman, said: There is a steer
age woman with months old baby" 4"
Noodle promptly stripped OF his life
belt, but it seems both he and the
woman perished.
Thomas Slidell, of New York, who
was interviewed in London yesterday.
said he saw Alfred @. Vanderbilt on
the deck OF the Lusitania as the yes
sci was going down.
Mr.. Vanderbilt, who could not swim.
was equipped with a life belt, Mr..
Slideli said. but he calamity took it
on and placed it around young won-
an Then he went OF to seek, another
life belt. The ship sank a few sec.
Onds later.
The midland journal., 1915-05-14
BOTH SIDES ARE
CLAIMING GAINS
Berlin Reports Driving Allies
Out Of Ypres Position.
AVOID RUSSIANS At MITAU
Paris Asserts Advance OF Two and a
Half Miles Was Made and
1000 Prisoners Were
Captured.

Berlin, via London.-The German
general army headquarters star gave
out the following othcial statement:
In the western theatre: During the
continuance of our attacks upon Ypres
(Belgium) we drove the enemy out Of
ais strongly tortlned positions between
the Fortuyn-Wyeltje and the Gheluvelt-
Ypres roads. we captured the villages
Of Frezenberg and Verlenanhoek and
took up important positions which
command the Leights. We took 800
English prisoners, among them so off,
GERS.
French attacks west of LEVIN and
northeast of the Loretta Height failed
with heavy losses for the enemy.
Near La Bassee and Vitry we
forced an aeroplane of the enemy to
land.
"A partial French attack undertaken
with the aid of fog and bombs to the
west of Perthes was beaten off by hand
grenades.
Russian Battalion Wiped Out
Northeast of Kovno the railway line
between Wilma and Saarle was destroy.
ed after we had wiped out Russian
battalion.
"On the Niemen, near Sreduki. we
attacked what remained of four Rus
sian battalions which apparently be-
longed to troops who were beaten on
Nav 4 and z near R0Ssinia
Renewed Russian attacks on our
positions on the Pilica were repulsed
with heavy losses to the enemy"
The midland journal., 1915-05-14
Paris elaine important oalns.


Paris.-The following communica-
ton was issued:
Between Nieuport and the sea the
Germans made an attack, but were
repulsed. They suffered heavy losses.
"The British troops have gained
ground in the region Of Fromelles-
"To the north of Arras we made i'm
portant progress and also in the direc-
ton of Loos and to the south of
Carency. In the latter sector we cap
tured at some places two and at other
places three lines Of trenches extend
ing over a front of seven kilometres
(about 1-3 miles), which were strong
ly fortified.
Capture OF 1000 Reported.
1--WE have established ourselves in
the village of La Hargette and in half
of the village OF Neuville-St. voast.
The conquered ground at some places
is four kilometres (about ~ miles) in
width. < We took more than 1000
prisoners and six cannon"