The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-05-14
lUSIT|NA SENT TO BOTTOM;
GERMAN TORPEDO DOES 1T

ed from abroad. Less than an hour
later the company made public addi-
tional messages confirming the report
which in the meantime, however, had
been verified by newspaper dispatches
from London.
Conflicting reports came in during
the afternoon to the line, and the news
agencies in regard to the safety of the
passengers, but up to the early hours
of the evening no definite information
as to their fate had been received.
The publication of the news created
tremendous excitement in Wall street
and there followed a violent decline
in both the stock and cotton markets.
Under an avalanche of selling orders
which reached their greatest volume
during the last hour of trading, stocks
fell from to 80 points and cotton
$3.50 bale. The so-called war stocks,
like Bethlehem Steel, were especially
affected.
The Lusitania, with a total of 1881
passengers aboard, of whom 1873 were
Americans and with crew of SIC,
sailed from here last Saturday in the
face of a warning published on the
day of her departure by the German
embassy which stated that travellers
intending to embark on British ships
did so at the risk of the ships being
destroyed, in accordance with the Ger
man war zone decree.
This warning, published in the form
of an advertisement, did not result in
the cancellation of single passage,
nor did anonymous notes Of warning
said to have been received by some
passengers just before the big liner
left her pier, deter anyone from sail
ing.
Reports from Washington that 1t
was privately known in official quar-
tiers that the Lusitania was to be tor
pedoed at the first opportunity gave
color to the opinion expressed in ship
ping circles tonight that the embas-
sys warnings was intended to apply
particularly to- the Lusitania.
Travellers intending to embark on
the Atlantic voyage" read the adver-
tisement, ARE reminded that state
of war exists between Germany and
her allies; that the war zone includes
the waters adjacent to the British
Isles; that, in accordance to formal
notice, given by the imperial govern
ment, vessels 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 the ships of Great Britain or her
allies do so at their own risk"
This afternoon and tonight anxious
friends and relatives of the Lusitania' S
passengers besieged the offices of the
Cunard line and the scene recalled
those at the offices of the White Star
line when the Titanic sank, three years
ago.,
Officials of the Cunard line an
nounced tonight that they had re-
ceived more than 500 telephone and
telegraph inquiries relative to the
safety of the passengers.
Washington, May S.-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
the view was general that the most
many OF those Nost we're Americans,
WNU SAT TWO Pc
serious situation confronted the Amer
lean government since the outbreak of
the war in Europe.
The warning of the United States
that Germany would be held to a
"strict accountability" for the loss Of
American lives" irrespective Of
whether they were aboard belligerent
or neutral vessels when attacked, TO-
cused attention on the white house,
where President Wilson until late in
the night, read the dispatches with
grave interest.
hO llO
Secretary Bryan, Counsellor Ian.
sing, senator's and members of the
house who we're in the city waited up
until late hour for definite news of
the passengers and crew of the ILL
fated ship. Earlier in the day they
construed the positive announcements
from abroad that no lives had been
lost as final. but later advices dash
ed their hopes.
Officials said facts and circum-
stances would have to be had by care
full investigation during the next few
days before any announcements could
be made by the American government.
The disposition among high officials
was not to take hasty action, but to
await the British admiralty's reports
and results of the investigations of
Ambassador Page.
Although congress is not in session,
Chairman Stone of the senate foreign
relations committee and other Nom.