LUSITANIA THREAT.

Northern Advocate, 8 May 1915, Page 5

LUSITANIA THREAT.

TORPEDOED IN ATLANTIC.

NEAR IRISH COAST.

PERSONS ABOARD TOTALLED 1978

THE GALLIPOLI WEESTLE.

AUSTRALASIAN BRILLIANCE.

STKENUOUS TASK AHEAD.

One of the most sensational items of news in to-day's budget is the torpedoing of the Canard liner Lusitania 10 miles off Kinsale Head, south coast of Ireland. This accords with the threat made when the Luistania was about to depart from America. She had aboard 1978 persons, comprising 1318 passengers and a crew of 665, regarding whose safety the accounts so far to hand are conflicting. One message states the vessel was beached and that no lives were lost- and another that the vessel sank ia 21 minutes and that there is uncertainty as to whether ail were rescued. Fighting of a desperate character continues at Gallipoli, where the Allies are endeavouring: to prevent Turkish reinforcements junctloning with the main enemy forces. Further successes are attending the operations of General Botha's forces in German South-West Africa. The railway junction at Kiribil and two railway stations have been occupied. Bombs have been dropped on Constantinople by Russian aviators. Considerable damage was caused. Heavy I«;>!ica; have been sustained' on both sides in the Gallipoli fighting. Steady advance is being made by the Australasians and of iter taiied troops, who have captured the heights facing the Suandere fort... .japan's ultimatum lias been presented to China aud a reply is demanded *;y fi>-morrow- It is stated that the original demands have been modi'ied and that China lias practically conceded everything asked. The United States attitude is expressed in ti-ie policy of China's territorial integrity and the commercial "open door.'' The transporting of enemy troops and supplies from Smyrna to the Dardanelles has been greatly hampered by a British airman destroying tiie railway bridge at Pandemia. Details of the Philomel's operations show that she encountered tiie Turks near Alexandretta, and that she has covered 30,000 miles sine 2 the outbreak of hostilities. Submarines sank the steamers Candidate and Centurion in the Irish Sea. No lives were lost. A significant development of the Grecian, attitude is the sudden recalling of ex-Premier Venezelos, who is a strong advocate of Greece taking part with the Allies.