ON THE SEAS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15478, 4 January 1916, Page 8

ON THE SEAS.

THE PERSIA OUTRAGE.

AN APALLING CRIME

NO "WARNING- GIVEN. STORIES OF SURVIVORS. (By C*ble.—Press Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, January 2. Lloyd's report that 153 survivors of the Persia have arrived at Alexandria. They consist of 59 passengers, of whom 17 are women, and 94 of the crew, of whom 59 are Lascars. The Persia's passengers included Mr J. Do Renzy, who was booked for Auckland. His fate is uncertain. (Received January 3rd, 7.10 p.m.) CAIRO, January 3. The survivors includo ten military officers, who state that the ship was struck amidships at one in the afternoon, and disappeared in five minutes. It was a miracle that anyone was saved. Four boats were lowered with the greatest promptitude. Tho captain was drowned. He was last seen swimming after the liner made her final plunge. (Received January 3rd, 10.35 p.m.) LONDON, January 3. Captain the Hon. Charles Bigham, son of Viscount Mersey, who was a passenger in the Persia, telegraphs that she was struck on the port bow. The crew of the submarine made no attempt to assist the passengers. It was impossible to lower tho starboard boats, owing to tho heavy list. Five of the six port boats were lowered. The conduct of the passengers and crew was splendid. There was no struggling or panic. British warships picked up four of the boats after they had been adrift for thirty hours.

(Received January 4th, 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, January 3. Approximately 390 of the Persia's complement are missing. CAIRO, January 3. Two boats were drawn under by the ship )vhen she sank, there being no time to cut the ropes. The waves almost immediately washed the Persia's deck and swept the passengers and crew into the sea. The Hon. C. Bigham sank, hut on rising ho bumped his head against a boat, and was thus saved. •There are no tidings of two other boats ■which "tfere launched. It is feared that there are no further survivors.

AMERICAN CONSUL LOST. i ATTITUDE OF THE UNITED STATES. WASHINGTON, January 2. The has been aroused at. never before by the news of the torpedoing of the Persia at a moment when it "was supposed that an adjustment of the Ancona . dispute was being mode. The latest outrage recalls the fact that while President Wilson was negotiating on the Lusitania massacre, the Arabic -was sunk. The State Department officials feel that Austria, since the Ancona reply, has had ample time in -which to notify the commanders of her submarines not to torpedo a vessel before removing all non-combatants. WASHINGTON, January 2. The State Department learns that the Persia was torpedoed without warning, and sunk in five minutes. , Mr McNeely, the American Consul at Aden, was lost." v ' \ The story of the sinking of the Ancona, as told by the commander of the vessel, is printed on page 3 of this issue. NEWSPAPER COMMENT. NEW YORK PAPERS BITTER. QUESTIONS FOR PRESIDENT WILSON. (Received January 3rd", 7.10 p.m.), LONDON, January 3. Tho "Daily Telegraph" says: — "Promptly upon the opening of the new year another act of monstrous Atrocity has been committed, as if our enemies are under a fatal compulsion to repeatedly remind humanity what Germanism stands for and what its success in the war would mean. Aus-tro-German frightfulness decrees that it is the business of their navies to sink-liners and the business of the diplomats to construct a defencc afterwards. The sinking of the Persia deepens the. loathing with which Germany is regarded throughout the civilised world."

The "New York Herald" says: — "In their policy of frightfulness Austria and Germany are tarred with the same brush."

The "New York Tribune" asks:—"ls President Wilson still too proud to fight? How many more murders of women and children are needed to convince the American nation that there is no. escape from duty and action in mere words and inquiries." THE NEWS IN INDIA. enemy must be crushed. (Received January 4th, 12.30 a.m.) DELHI, January 3. The sinking of the Persia caused a Berero shock throughout India. The feeling of the people strongly condemns any peace until the enemy is entirely crushed. I

TRENCHANT LETTER FROM AN AMERICAN. A PROPHECY FULFILLEDA letter received by the Editor 'of "The Press" from a scientific expert in America is especially interesting just now, as showing the strain put on the feelings of the better class of Americans by President Wilson's weakness, while the newspaper cutting enclosed contains a propnecy which seems to have received a speedy and remarkable fulfilment. The cori espondent in question writes, under date November 21st:—

"I am enclosing an editorial that seems to meet tuc views ana iecungs of most Americans concerning our attitude in tms war. We feei tnat our conduct nas not been guided by high aims, but in tne last analysis by oruinary cowardice. Tnat's a hard tuing to say, but that is tne way I (and otners; leel about it, and J hate the President with an abiding hate for putting us in such an attitude.

"The prophecy of the editorial we all hope and pray will be fulfilled— fulfilled, if possible, before this letter reaches you. The victors (whoever they may be) should give themselves as a willing sacrifice if they could know their deaths would bring the nation to a man's estate.

"The other day we attended a mass meeting for the British relief. A Canadian _M.P. gave the address. I was surprised to learn that Canada had sent only 2 per cent, of her population as soldiers to the European field, that Australia had sent only 3 per ccnt., and New Zealand only 3J per cent. It seems to me that — e British colonies are not awake to their peril. Such a weak showing is disgraceful. The Germans are actually winning at every point, because they are throwing their whole force into the fight. In my opinion the colonies have got to put a full 10 per cent, of their population into the fighting ranks, or the Allied cause will be lost.

"I have seen many estimates of the German losses and computations of the time when they must weaken through lack of men, but events are not bearing out these estimates. The Germans claim they can put 12 per cent, of their population in the field, or even 15 per cent., if-necessary. L don't believe th'ey can do it, but no one can be sure they cannot.

"The gains that Germany is making will have to be retaken at a loss of two to one, though that may not mean so much with numbers diminished on both sides. England's losses have not been a drop in the bucket as compared with the other nations, and if England eventually goes into the fight regardless of losses, as the Germans do, the Allies will win, but it is going to take the last man and the last dollar to do it, and anything less will mean defeat.

"It is very essential that Germany tie defeated now, as aeria] warfare will be developed next, and if Germany is a member of the nations, then it will mean untold horrors for the entire world. The German people must not be allowed to possess such a weapon; they must bo'crushed now, and held down ever after." "EVENTS WILL" FORCE TJS."

Enclosed in the above letter was a leading article from the "Post Express," of Rochester. N.Y., on the Ancona outrage, headed "Events Will Force Us." After forcibly pointing out that the Ancona atrocity exceeded in moral turpitude that of the Lusitania, the "Post Express" continues: Our Administration may go on temporising, hair-splitting, palavering, and feeding grandiloquent platitudes to tho people—our President may continue for a while yet to delay and dodge tho issue and decline to voice the overwhelming sentiment of the nation, but fate will bring confusion on If this world war is what it seems to be, a crisis for civilisation such as mankind has never met before and may not meet again, events will force the neutral nations to take a stand before tho final decision is reached. The Lusitania nefarity did not suffice to enlist our wholehearted moral support' on tho side of the eternal right, and the Ancona v atrocity may not waken us to a sense of our duty to humanity. But if it does not, sure as fate and inescapable as death, some compelling incident, some crime _ that wo cannot pardon, some indignity that wc cannot abide, some crisis external or internal, some peril foreign or domestic, will force the timorous hand of the Administration, or some great leader will rise and voice Americanism in ringing • tongs that all the world will hear. We shall show our colours before this frightful debaelo is over; and we shall not go down to history as a I people of pious cant, content to lose their self-respect if only the.v can line their pockets, too commercialised to give even their moral support to nobler peoples who are giving their all that liberty, civilisation' and righteousness may live.