LATEST CABLE NEWS.

Clutha Leader, Volume XLI, Issue 2, 14 July 1914, Page 6

LATEST CABLE NEWS.

THE EMPRESS OF IRELAND. THE STORSTAD IX FAULT. CHANGE OF COURSE CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. QUEBEC, July 11. Lord Mersey's Commission found that the Storstad was to blame for the Empress «f Ireland disaster. Lord Mersey held that it was due to the Storstad's change i.f course, ordered by the third officer without the first officer's or the captain's sanction. He exonerates Captain Kendall coiiip'etely, but suggests that hj would been 'letter advised if he had navigated the ship so'as to pass the Storstad at a greater dista'uee. It was impossible to criticise him for an unseamanlike act in stopping the ship, as that action was simply the proper measure of precaution. The commission held that porting the Storstad 7 s helm ,was not done to counteract the effect of the St. Lawrence current, and Chief Officer Tuftness was negligent in not calling . c'n captain when the fog arose. DISCLOSING DEFENCE SECRETS. ARRESTS IN SAN FRANCISCO. NEW YORK, July 10. Mr Field, editor of a San Francisco magazine Mr Fowler (the aviator), and two others have been arrested 011 a charge of disclosing military secrets. Mr Fowler aeroplaned over the Panaim Canal forts and wrote an article pointing out the inadequacy of the defences against air attack. Mr Field published the letter, and the Department of War ordered the arrests. It will be the first prosecution of the kind ever heard of in America. ROYALTIES IN SCOTLAND. AN UNIQUE PRESENTATION. LONDON, July 10. Their Majesties the King and Queen visited the Park Mead Steel Works, Glasgow, and watched the manufacture of loin guns. A picturesque incident in the day's proceedings was the presentation of a bouquet of orchids to the Queen, to which the workpeople had subscribed a penny each. An overhead crane capable of lifting 100 tons was utilised to carry a little girl down the shop to their Majesties, where she timidly asked the Queen to accept the bouquet. Their Majesties were obviously delighted with the incident. SUFFRAGETTE RESCUED FROM MOB. LONDON, July 10. There was an exciting episode while their Majesties were motoring in Perth. A suffragette named Rhoda Fleming climbed the footboard of the car an<l attempted to break the window. Two policemen sprang on the car and seized tEe woman. A score of mounted troopers were required to rescue her from the angry mob. FISHING BOAT CAPSIZED. SIX MEN DROWNED. SYDNEY, July 11. Last night a fishing party of 13 were ! returning to Tweed Heads when their j launch capsized three-quarters of a•, mile from land. Six of the party managed to reach the shore in an exhausted condition. The body of a seventh, Mr A. Buchanan, also drifted ashore. • AN ADDED HORROR. SYDNEY, July 12. The bodies of three victims of the Tweed Heads disaster have been recovered. When the boat overturned the big waves running in the channel washed the men who were clinging to it, who were numbed with the bitter cold, off the upturned boat. Buchanan made gallant efforts to save Freeny, but he became exhausted and was dashed against the rocks and sank. There is evidence that sharks attacked some of the victims when attempting to reach land. > GERMAN NAVAL POWER. BERLIN, July 10. The official newspapers indicate a great accession of Germany's striking force by the unexpected acceleration of the third squadron, which will be ready in a few weeks. Germany will then have three squadrons in full commission at Wilhelmshaven ami Kiel. AUSTRIAN NOTE TO SERVIA. VIENNA, July 10. The Government is requesting Servia to discover and punish the originators of the recent assassinations, and to prevent future agitation of Servians in Bosnia. AN AMERICAN HORROR. THREE MEN INCINERATED. BOY SLOWLY ROASTED TO DEATH.' j NEW YORK, July 12. j During a fire which destroyed a logging camp at Comly mill, Tacoma, 17 men aboard a locomotive attempted to save a number of loaded lumber cars. The locomotive, however, left the undermined traek and plunged headlong into the fire. The men were thrown alive into the flames. Fourteen escaped badly burned; three were burnt to ashes, and a boy who was caught by the foot under the overturned engine, was slowly roasted to death, his companions being too injured to assist him.