The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1908-current, 1915-05-08
LOST WHEN
GREAT SHIP SANK
GERMANS ACCLAIM DEED
RESCUED FROM TORPEDOED
LUSITANIA NUMBER 658-
ROOSEVELT WARLIKE.

The most sensational disaster of
the European war was the sinking
yesterday afternoon of the British
liner Lusitania, with over 2,100 on
BOARD, by a German submarine off
the coast of Ireland. The submarine
ired two torpedoes at the gigantic
merchant vessel, which sank in less
than 80 minutes.
The British admiralty announces
today, according to Associated Press
bulletins, that fully 800 lost theil
lives when the liner went down. The
total number rescued was 659. 1t was
stated that possibly other small boats
containing survivors might be pickeC
up later. The names of ALFRED
Gwynne Vanderbilt, Charles Froh
man and Ebert Hubbard, distinguish
ed Americans on board the Lusitania
have not yet appeared in the cableo
lists of survivors.
Berlin newspapers are said to ac
claim in great headlines the sinking
of the vessel as the greatest achieve
ment of the German navy during the
present war.
Official Washington in maintaining
silence but it is realized that the sit
aation is very grave. English ant
French papers are a unit in denounc
ing as an act of barbarism the attaci
on the vessel.
"The most serious situation that
has confronted the United States
government since the outbreak of the
war; was the way Washington off
cials described the sinking of the
Lusitania.
The warning of the United State.
when Germany declared her subma
rine blockade was that Germany
would be "held to strict accountable
ity for the loss of American lives
All eyes are turned toward the
White House, where President Will
son, until late last night, read with
deepest interest all dispatches that
told of the destruction of the great
liner. 1t is certain no action will be
taken until after the arrival of the
British Admiralty's report and the
report of Ambassador Page at Lon
don on the result of his investiga-
ton.
Theodore Roosevelt, after learning
the details of the sinking of the Lu-
stania, made this statement:
This represents not merely pira-
cy but piracy on a vaster scale OF
murder than any old time pirate ever
practiced. This is the warfare which
destroyed Louvain and Dinant ano
hundreds of men, women and chill
dren in Belgium. 1t is warfare
against innocent men, women anC
children travelling on the ocean anC
to our fellow-country women who are
among the sufferers.
at seems inconcievable that we car
refrain from taking action in this
matter, for we owe it not only to hu
nanity but to our own national self
respect"
The sinking of the Lusitania is the
climax of series of incidents involv
ing the United States. These include
the death of Leon c. Thrasher, al
American citizen, when the British
steamer Falaba was sunk, the drop
ping of bombs on the American
steamer Cushing by German aero
plane and the recent torpedoing OF
the American steamer Gulflight
which was wrecked with the loss OF
three American lives
Government officials and foreign
diplomats here believe the Germans
weeks ago planned the sinking of the
Lusitania for the psychological effect
it might have on Great Britain anc
the terror it might spread among
ocean travellers.
Several weeks ago the German en-
bassy was instructed to have placeo
in leading United States newspapers
advertisements warning passengers
against travelling on belligerent ships
Persons. who it was known intended
embarking on the Lusitania received
anonymous letters of warning. Let
ters have been received this week from
officials in Germany saying that the
Lusitania would be sunk.
Early yesterday a United States
government official was told that this
was the day selected for the Lusi
tania's destruction.