MURDERS ON THE HIGH SEAS

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 49, 14 October 1918, Page 5

MURDERS ON THE HIGH SEAS

THE' SINKING OF THE TICONDEOQA. PIRATE USES 8-INCH GUNS. SURVIVORS ADRIFT FOR FOUR DAYS. Australian and N.Z. Oablo Association (Received October 13. 5.5 p-m.) LONDON, October 12. An account of th ft sinking of the American ship Ticondeoga states that the ship’s guns were quickly silenced' by the U-boat’s shell';. All but two. lifeboats were destroyed-. One member of the crew swam alongside tli e U-boat and asked tbe commander to cease firing.. The commander pointed ‘a pistol and ordered him to swim away. After the ship sank the single surviving boat was compelled to throw a towline aboard the U-boat. AVlien the American sailors refused to answer the questions of the Üboat commander, tbe submarine suddenly submerged, but the life-boat was saved from being capsized by the tow-line breaking. The submarine is described ahaving 8-inch guns aboard. * (The survivors were adf-itt loi four days. Many of them are seriously wounded. THE LEINSTER DISASTER. DEATH ROLL CLOSE ON 600. STEAMER SEEMED TO CRUMBLE Australian and NK liable A^ciatiou. LONDON, Oct. 11. The steamer Leinster, which was torpedoed twice on the vojage e tween Dublin and Holyhead was struck in the engine-room. A terrible explosion killed numbers, ni--clvuling 70 in & lifeboat banging from the davits. A few boats were launched and some overturned, lue rafts saved many. „ The steamer was torpedoed upward and heeled over., Hie crew began to lower the lifeboats. the second torpedo three minutes late* struck the engine-room, a deafening explosion blowing the funnel in the air. and killing the captain. One of the crew- says the steamer seemed to crumble. She sank in fifteen minutes. Six hundred and thirty-seven passengers were aboard. There were a number of women and children. Most of these were thrown headlong into the water. It was only possible to lower a few boats. These were overcrowded. One filled with water and overturned. A number or survivors were picked up clinging to overturned boats; others on rafts cast from the deck. United Services. (Received Oct. 13. 5.5 p.tn.) LONDON, Oct. 11. At tlie wireless call for help fifty vessels of all descriptions quitted Kingstown. Crowds lined the oier awaiting tidings and two hundred ambulances were in attendance. An officer says that all would have been saved but for the second torpedo. There were only four boats then afloat. Hie occupants saw the most terrible spectacle of the ship heavily listed, with her propellers out of the water. When the vessel was struck the second, time the track of the torpedo was seen but no submarine. There tvas a tremendous explosion, and some boats and rafts were smashed to matchwood. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON. Oct. 12. Official: There were 7SO aboard the Leinster, and there are 193 survivors. JAPANESE LINER STRUCK. SEA A MASS~Op r STRUGGLING HUMANITY.

ONLY 28 SURVIVORS OUT OF 320 ABOARD. The Times. LONDON, Oct. 10. Tlic Hirano Maru, bound for Capetown, was torpedoed at daybreak. There were 320 aboard, of whom 200 were passengers, including women and children. There were 2S survivors, comprising 11 passengers aim 17 of tlie crew, who were rescued by an American vessel a.nd landed at an Irish port. There was a strong gale and a 'Ugh sea when the vessel was torpedoed, and it was impossible to launch the boats, as she sank quickly, leaving the sea a mass of struggling humanity. The majority were soon overcome by the raging seas. The survivors, thinly clad. mostly in night attire, suffered terribly from exposure. The third officer died after he was rescued. Captain Fraser went clown with the vessel. The only officer saved was the chief engineer. nothi¥g~shqrt of MURDER.

SINKINGS INCIDENTS IN NEW

CAMPAIGN. MOST SHOCKING CRIMES SINCE THE LUSITANIA. (Received Oct. 13, 5 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 12. The sinking of the Leinster and Hirano Marti are apparently incidents in a now submarine campaign recently inaugurated. There arc much larger and more heavily armed U-boats on the routes of the American transports. The stories of survivors emphasise that the sinkings were nothing short of murder. A high sea was running and rain falling in torrents. The Hirano Maru was torpedoed without warning on Saturday night. The seamen hurriedly attempted to launch boats, hut they were smashed against the sides. The passengers realised the disaster and rushed up on deck to find huge waves sweeping men, women, and children into the sea. Soon a couple of hundred were fighting for their lives in the waves, piteously shrieking for help.

The Hirano Mara sank in five minutes, with the captain and al] his officers. A big explosion finally shattered the vessel. Doors, seats, and other woodwork were loosened by the explosion, and were flung into the sea and served as makeshift rafts. Mon and women struggled towards them and hung on desperately, despite -the high , waves. he wireless operator continued to send messages until his cabin was flooded. He was unable to escape, being drowned. Messages brought an American destroyer,, but it was forced to discontinue rescue work, as a- submarine was lurking watching for victims It fired a' torpedo against the destroyer. Meanwhile unfortunates were dropping off the woodwork! and drowning every minute. The j>ropel]or, sinking, rut a number of people in pieces and mutilated bodies were tossed on tlie waves. When thej destroyer had seared off the submarine it was able to, resume the, rescue work,. Tho cries of the victims had almost ceased and onlv twenty-nine were alive. The attack on tlie Leinster was equally determined. She narrowly escaned torpedoing on Monday, and finally the Germans used three torpedoes,. though the vessel was only a fragile cross-channei packet. The newspapers are of opinion that this is the most shocking crime since the Lusitania, and that the latest infamy disqualifies Max’s Government from conducting further negotiations. Tlie latest information shows that, of 150 men aboard tlie Leinster fifteen were landed and several have since died.