Evening journal., 1916-05-06
pUSITANIA SUNK By
GERMANY YEAR AGO
1900 Persons, lis of Them
Americans, PeriShed in
Sea Horror
INCIDENT NEARLY
BROUGHT BREAK

On May Z. 1915. one year ago next
sundsy. the palatial Cunard liner Lus-
tania, bound from New York to Liver
pool with 1906 persons aboard. was
torpedoed and sunk by a German sub
marine of Old Head of Kinsale, South
western Ireland. About 200 persons.
among them more than 115 Ameri-
cans. including thrty-seven from
Philadelphia and vicinity, lost their
lives
The sinking Of the Lusitania. with
rs attendant destruction Of life. sent
a thrill of horror through the neutral
peoples of the world. General oDpo-
sition to the use Of submarines in at
ackng peaceful shipping especially
passenger vessels. crystalized as the
result Of the tragedy. and a critical
diplomatic controversy between the
United States and Germany developed
which is just now driving toward a
definite decision. The American Gov
ernment has signihed its determine
lion to break of friendly relations
with the German empire unless the
ruthless practices of the submarine
commanders are terminated
Among the victims Of the Cunard-
ars destruction were some OF the
best known personages of the West
arn Hemisphere. Alfred Gwynne Van
derbilt, multi-millionaire Charles
Frohman noted theatrical manager;
Charles Klein, dramatist. who wrote
The LioE and the Mouse" Justus
Miles Forman. author. and llbert
Hubbard, known as Fra Elbertus
widely read ioonclastic writer. were
drowned Philadelphia who went ia
their deaths include Mr. and Mrs
Harry j. Keser. the former having
been vice president OF the Philadelphia
National Bank; Mr.. and Mrs w. S
Hodges and their two young sons. ant
Mr. and Mrs Paul Crompton and 81,
children. Of Chestnut Hill.
Only three local persons aboard tn,
liner were saved. best known OF whom
is Samuel VI. Knox. president Of the
New York Shipbuilding Company
John Allen and Thomas j. Williams
who gave their address as Philadel
phia. Margaret Ballentine. OF Norris
town. and Herbert Light, Camden
were others rescued.
The ocean off the pleasant southern
coast OF Ireland was dotted will
bodies for days after the sinking o
the liner The remains of many o
the victims, however. never were re
covered
Anonymous Warnings.
When the Lusitania prepared Il
loo Hn.fH
fifty anonymous kilograms addressei
10 prominent persons aboard the YES
sci warned the recipients not 10 sal
with the liner that the Cunarde
would meet the fate that befell he
one week later In addition TO thes
warnings was an advertisement in
serted IN the leading metropolitan
newspapers by the German Embassy
advising neutral persons that British
steamships were I'm danger Of destruc
ton i'm the war zone about the Britis
Isles. This notice appeared the da
the Lusitania sailed-May /.
Little or no attention was paid Z
the warnings. only the usual numbe
of persons cancelling their reserva
lions. The general agent of the Gun
ard Tine al New York assured tn
passengers that the Lusitania's voy
age would be attended by no ris
whatever. referring to the liner
speed and water-tight compartments.
AS the great Cunarder grew nea
The scene OF her disaster. travelling a
moderate speed along her accustome
route. there was news of freigh
steamers falling victims to Germany
undersea campaign. It was not deh
nitely established. however. whethe
the liner was warned OF danger.
PeriScOpe Is Sighted.
At . o'clock on the fine afternoon
MAY Z. some ten miles OFF the Old Hea
Of Kinsale. the lookouts sighted tn
periscope OF a submarine 1000 yard
away. A second later the track of
torpedo. soon followed by anothe
was seen and each missile crashe
into the Lusitan>a hull with rendin
detonations.
Many were killed or injured by th
explosions. Combustion and PAM
we're prevalent Before the liner