Evening journal., 1916-05-06

headway was lost, boats were lowered
and capsized as a result. The imme-
late listing Of the steamship added TO
the difficulties Of rescue and increased
the tragical toll Of dead.
Much heorism and calmness were
displayed by many in the few minutes
the liner remained afioat. The bear
ing OF Frohman. Vanderbilt, Hubbard
and other Americans was declared to
have been particularly inspiring.
Rescue ships and naval vessels
rushed TO the aid Of the survivors
from all nearby ports Of Ireland.
Why Ship Was sunk.
II has been said that the sinking OF
the Lusitania was carefully planned
by the chiefs OF the German Admir-
ality They expected, il was believed. |
to demoralize British shipping and /
strike terror into the minds Of the
British people by showing that the
largest and swiftest of liners could /
easily be destroyed by submarines.
According to the Paris paper, La
Guerre Sociale. published by Gustave |
Herve, the submarine responsible was
: the U-21, commanded by Lieutenant
Hersing Hersmg was said TO have
been decorated for his deed. The
4 U-21 afterwards was destroyed and
the story Of it's participation in the
sinking of the great Cunarder never
was confirmed.
immediately upon the news Of the
Lusitania disaster. President Wilson
took steps to hold Germany TO that
"strict accountability Of which he had
notified Berlin wnen the war zone OPP
erations were begun earlier in the
year. His first communication, pro-
testing against the sinking of the
liner. in the name OF humanity and
demanding disavowal indemnity. and
assurance that the crime would not
be repeated. was despatched on May
Is. On May 80. the German reply
argued that the liner carried muni-
tions OF war and probably was armed.
Secretary Bryan Resigns.
These excavations were all re-
iected by the United States and the
next note prepared by President Will
son was OF such character that Secre-
tary of State Bryan resigned. This
second communication was sent on
! June IL. and on June % another was
cabled September I Germany accept
ed the contentious OF the United States
i'm regard TO submarine warfare upon
peaceful shipping. There we're consid-
, cradle negotiations concerning the
specific settlement to be made in the
case OF the Lusitania.
On February 4. 1915. arrived Ger
man proposition which, coupled with
personal parleys. carried on between
, German Ambassador Won BernstOrh
and United States Secretary OF State
, Lansing, seemed in fair way to con-
, clude the whole controversy. Il was
, announced on February that the two
nations were in substantial accord and
Germany was declared 10 have admit
- ted the sinking of the liner was wrong
o. and unjustifed and promised that rep
i. aration to the victims would be made.
Settlement is Upset.
4 However a week later. when Ger
! many took advantage OF tentative
Z American proposals concerning the
( disarming OF merchant ships by an
% nouncing that all armed hostile mer-
chantmen would be treated as war
ships and attacked without warning
n the almost completed agreement was
, overthrown. The renewed negotiations
4 we're continuing when the torpedoing
- Of the cross-channel passenger shir
n Sussex without warning on March "a
r impelled the United States 10 issue q
r virtual ultimatum. demanding that the
@ Germans Immediately cease theiI
To- present methods of naval warfare on
n pain OF the rupture Of diplomatic re-
!. lations with the most powerful exist
b ing neutral nation.
% The Lusitania, previous 10 her sink
b ing, had figured in the war news. first
y az the outbreak OF the conflict. when
10 was feared she had been captured
o by a German cruiser while she was
r dashing across the Atlantic toward
- Liverpool. and again in February OF
r. 1915. when she flew the American
e flag as a ruse TO deceive submarines
Re- while crossing the Irish Sea. This
k latter incident called forth a protest
s from the United States.
On her fatal trip the cargo OF tht
r Lusitania was worth S735.000. Two
L thirds Of it consisted of munitions o
d war.
It As a great transatlantic liner. the
s Lusitania was a product OF the race
l. for speed. which was carried on fol-
IT years among larger steamship COM
panies. particularly Of England anC
Germany When the Lusitania wa:
If launched il was the wonder of the
d maritime world It's mastery OF the
e sea. from the standpoint OF speed, wal
Is undisputed.
a Progress OF the Lusitania on its frs
T.. voyage to New York. September z
d 1907, was watched by the world. Th'
g vessel made the voyage i'm five day.
and fifty-four minutes. at that time 1
Ie record. It's fastest trip. made on th'
c western voyage. was four days, clever
S hours, forty-two minutes. This record