Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1915-05-13
1856 Lives Lost;
115 Were Americans.
Big Liner Lusitania Sent To
Bottom of Sea By Torpedo
From Submarine.


From Submarine.
The Cunard liner Lusitania was torpe-
decd by German submarine off Kinsale,
on the southeast coast of Ireland, near
the entrance to St. Georges Channel
Friday afternoon, May 7th. According
to report, she received no warning and
sank in 10 minutes.
The Lusitania had on board 2,O67 souls,
1881 of whom were passengers, accord
ing to official figures from the Cunard
office.
The Lusitania, with a total of l,251
passengers aboard, of whom 1888 were
Americans, and with a crew of sl6, sail
ed from New York Saturday, May LIST,
in the face of warning published on the
day of her departure by the German EN-
bassy, which stated that travellers in
tending to embark on British ships did
so at the risk of the ship being destroyed
in accordance with the German war zone
decree.
This warning, published in the form of
an advertisement, did not result in the
cancellation of a single passage, nor did
anonymous notes of warnings, said to
have been received by some passengers
just before the big liner left her pier,
deter anyone from sailing.
Reports from Washington that it was
privately known in official quarters that
the Lustania was to be torpedoed at the
first opportunity gave color to the opinion
expressed in shipping circles that the
embassy's warning was intended to apply
particularly to the Lusitania.
The survivors do not agree as to
whether the submarine fired one or two
torpedoes. A few say they saw the perl
scope, though many attest to tracing the
wake of foam as a projectile came to-
ward the vessel. The only points in
which all concur is that the torpedo
struck the vessel vital blow amidships,
causing her to list almost Immediately to
the starboard. In this careening fash
ing she plowed forward some distance
smashing the lifeboats' davits as she did
so and making the launching of boats
well-nigh impossible until Roadway had
ceased. The list to starboard so elevated
the lifeboats on the port side as soon to
render them useless, and it is said only
two on that side were launched
DR.. Bernard Dernburg, former Minis
ter of Colonies of the German Empire,
and regarded in this country as the
Kaiser's spokesman, said that Germany
had only begun her deadly crusade against
Great Britain's commerce, and that the
sinking of the Lusitania would be follow
ed by the destruction of other British
ships, whether or not there weIe Ameri-
cans aboard.
The American flag, he said, would af-
ford not the slightest protection for ves-
sells which carried cargo that the Ger
mans regarded contraband. He added
that even parts of flying machines, auto
mobile accessories and cotton were 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
off Germany from the outside world and
we intend to isolate her in like manner,
so that all communication with other
parts of the earth will be IMPOSSIBLE
The following official communication
was issued Sunday night:
1.-THE Cunard liner Lusitania was yes
terday torpedoed by German submarine
and sunk.
1.-The Lusitania was naturally armed
with guns, as were recently most of the
England mercantile steamers. Moreover,
as is we'll known here, she had large
quantities of war material in her cargo.
Her owners, therefore, knew to what
danger the passengers were exposed.
They alone bear all the responsibility 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 waIning
so as to draw attention to this danger.
The English press sneered then at the
warning and relied on the protection OF
the British fleet to safeguard Atlantic