Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-03-23
Belief That Great Liner Was
Torpedoed InfIames Public
Won Tirpitz's Farewell
Holly Resented.
TALK OF GERMAN BREAK
Tired of Excuses, Papers Say
Country Demands Such
Occurrences Cease-Loss
of Life Unknown.

saIiiiS unQer the Dutcn nag, tne III
bantia, of the Holland-Lloyd line, was
sur early yesterday, 80 miles off the
Dutch coast. Although it is not posi-
lively established whether the sinking
was due to a mine or a torpedo, there
is a singular unanimity on the part OF
those who were on board in attributins
IT TO a submarine act.
The members of the crew base their
belief in this regard chiefly on the in
tense violence of the explosion, and
that it occurred amidship.
Inc vessel was bound from Amster,
Dam to South American ports, carrying
a crew of 294 and 50 passengers, the
latter mostly neutrals. including, it is
sald, three Americans. The ship bore
the usual identification marks of hel
neutral character, including an illumin-
ated name and flag.
Amounts to Same Thing.
The disaster has created a profound
sensation throughout Holland. The
press comments reflect anger and in
dlgnatlon. The Nieuw Rotterdamsche
Courant says:
Between being torpedoed and being
mined. h only difference which ex,
lists is that known in criminal law be-
tween intention and conditional inten-
ton. If the ship was torpedoed. there
was absolute intention, or ignorance. OF
neglect equivalent to intention. The
submarine commander must have
known, when he gave the command to
fre. that he ship was the Tubantia.
No words can be found to qualify
this crime; no excuse. can be accepted"
1t is now believed there was a small
humber of lives lost in the sinking OF
the Tubantia. either in the explosion
or In an accident which attended the
launching Of a life boat. The steamer
remained afoat several hours.
No Panic on Steamer.
According to all reports there was
no panic. The boats we're launched in
their appointed order and the passen-
gers were all taken off. The rescue
work was difficult owing to the dark
ness and the heavy mist and the rough
sea.
The captain and part of the crew re-
manned on the gradually sinking ship
for some time, the wireless operator
keeping up the work of guiding Dutch
vessels to the rescue.
The captain was on the vessel for
two hours after she was struck and
was the last to cave. The rescuing
vessels took the passengers and crew
to Fishing, Amsterdam and the Hook.
The Hague, March II, (via London). |
The loss of one of Hollands finest
steamships has stirred the country
deeply. The sinking of the Tubantia,
valued at $1.so0,000 and insured for ST.
100000, means loss of valuable cargo
space not easily replaceable.
Public Sentiment Reused.
The opinion, accredited to the cap
tam, that the Tubantia was torpedoed, |
adds to the feeling of resentment.
aroused by the disaster. The Vader-
land calls attention to the fact that the |
vessel was sunk at almost the same
time that announcement was made of
the resignation of Admiral Won Tir-
pitt as German minister of marine and /
of the statement that his successor
would continue submarine warfare
without abatement.
This newspaper refers to the cases
of the Dutch steamers, Katwyk. Ar
tennis and Bandoeng, sunk or damaged
as a result OF German mistakes and
avs that if the Tubantia was sunk bv
a German submarine there will be in
creasing danger that Germany, against
her wishes, may find herself in conflict
with neutral states on account of tho
conduct Of her submarine commanders
The Vaderland voices the hope that the
change in leadership of the German
marine ministry will be utilized as an
opportunity for issuing more binding
rules to submarine commanders.
Won Tirpitz' Farewell.
The Nieuwe Courant, SAYS:
us this Won TirpitZ' farewell greeting
to friendly Holland? Germany ought to
be ashamed at this fresh proof that her
admiralty has not her submarine COM
handlers properly in hand. They sink
neutral merchantmen and are repri-
manded and punished, yet, on the next
fout their governments meas
ures and promises and fire away
blindly."
A stronger note Is sounded by the
NleuWe R~otterdamsche Courant, which
says that no matter whether the Tu-
bantia was sunk by a torpedo. or q
mine, the country demands that such
occurrences cease. 1t declares the gov
must make the strongest rem
resentatici1s to Berlin, and continues.
'Ihe was not a mere tramp.
She was the pride Of our mercantile
Every responsible naval com
mander would know what she was and
Whittier she was bound. No account Of
the disaster mentions a warning of any
kind. There is no excuse. No words
can qualify this misdeed, which !
all German assurances and
promises.
Between Devil and Deep Sea.
I'VE have nothing to do with officers.
The German admiralty ia re-
sponsible, and the demand must he
made that definite Instructions be pfv-
to the German navy to render It
certain that such mistakes will not arise
the future"
This newspaper says Holland is UNI
placed between one belliper-
emit, who professedly fights for the in
terests of small nations. but holds IN
our ships, seizes what she likes and
oaralyzes u imports and Industries"
another belligerent, who, "whiie
.,ontendlng for he so-called freedom
the seas, sinks our ships on sight.
notice.
scHILLlNG is IDENTIFIED.
Washington. March 17.-The state
today received unofficial
that Richard Schilling, referred
o in foreign news dispatches as an
consul and who was saved
With his wife and daughter when the /,
Cubantia sank. IL Q New York M n :