LUSITANIA TORPEDOED.

THIRTEEN HUNDRED PAS-

SENGERS.

By Electric Telegraph—Copyright Per Press Assn —Extraordinary Rec May 8, 9 a m

New York, May 7

The Lusitania, carrying 1300 passengers, was torpedoed and sunk oft Kiusale on the south coast of Ireland. Assistance has been sent.

A cable message from New York on May Ist stated that fifty anonymous telegrams were received by wealthy Americans aboard the Cunard liner Lusitania when she was on the point of sailing, warning them that the steamer would be torpedoed.

Relatives cf the passengers besieged them, begging them to abandon the voyage. The majority, however, departed.

Foreigners rouud the docks passed the word, "Death accompanies the Lusitania on this voyage," creating almost a panic.

A message from Loudon, dated May 2, was to the effect that advices from New York stated that the Lusitania sailed amid excitement. Amongst the numerous telegrams received was one declaring that the liner would certainly be torpedoed. Alfred Vanderbilt destroyed his telegram without comment.

The Lusitania belonged to the Cunard Steam Ship Company, Ltd, of Liverpool.* She was a quadrupled screw vessel of 30,396 gross tonnage, 762ft long and a beam of b7-t. S!ie had a speed of 25 kuots and was built in 1907. Her sister ship, the Mauritania, holds the Atlantic record. New Zealanders Book Passages Aucklaud, Muy 8 Mr J. C. Macky, of tho firm of Macky, Logan and Caldwell, with his wife aud family, had booked passages by the Lusitania on the present trip. Attacked by Submarine Rec May 8, 9.10 dm Loudon, May 7 The Cuuard Company, states that a submarine sank the Lusitania off the Old Head of Kiusale at 2 30. It is uukuowu whether thc passengers are saved. i Vessel Beached ! Kec May 8, 10 55 a m New York, May 7 * A despatch priuted here says that ! the Lusitania has been beached aud i the passengers and crew are safe. Rec May 8, 11 40 p m Loudon, May 7 On the Lusitania there were 290 first-class passengers, G62 second-1 class, aud 351 third-class. The crew numbered 665 New York, May 7 It is feared that all the passengers are not safe One account says that the ship sank tweutyoue miuutes after being struck without warning Three bundled persons lauded at Clouakilcy. Rec May 8, 12 25 p m. London, May 7 TII3 Cunard Company state there are great hopes of saving m\ny lives. A boatload of survivors is being towed to Kinsale. Extraordinary—Rec May 8, noon New York, May 8 It is now stated it is uncertain whether all the people on the Lusitania are saved. Rec May 7, 12 10 p.m. London, May 7. On leaving New York the captain of the Luistanii laughed at the German threats aud said: "We are too fast for them." After the vessel was torpedoed the following wireless nie*sage was sent: — "Come.at once; big list; position ten mile3 south of Kiusale. It is believed tha1: Hearst, ih • proprietor of pro-German newspapers, is aboard, and also Mr Alfred Vander« bilt, Rec May 8, 1.55 p m London, May 7 Twenty of the Lusitania's boats and sixteen other boats were on the sc^ne of the disaster after the sinking of tbe vessel.