PIRATICAL REJOICINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15914, 11 May 1915, Page 7

PIRATICAL REJOICINGS.

RHINE TOWNS BEFOGGED.

GREAT JOY IN GERMANY.

Berne, May 9.

The sinking of the Lusitania was welcomed with great joy in Germany and Austria. The Rhine towns were boflagged, and it is stated that the Kaiser ordered the school children a half-holiday. The majority of the German papers express no regret at the piracy, and do not mention the danger to women and children. They add that, as Americans were forewarned of the risk of the voyage, they must bear the consequeces of war conditions. ■'

: The Berliner Tageblatt says the Lusitania was an auxiliary cruiser, more strongly mounted with guns and manned than any German, and therefore must have been prepared for attack.

The German newspapers state that as the Lusitania was armed, it was impossible for the submarine to rescue the passengers. As soon as the Government learned that the Lusitania was carrying such extensive contraband as to give the allies sufficient material for several weeks, it was resolved to torpedo the vessel, as all other considerations must yield to the safety of German soldiers. The hope is expressed that the craft which torpedoes a liner will rescue passengers where possible.

UNRESERVED SATISFACTION

AMERICANS TO BLAME. (Receivod May 10. 8.20 p.m.) London, May 10. The Cologne Gazette says the news was received with unreserved satisfaction. It proven to the whole world that Germany is in ' earnest with her submarine war. The American public had hitherto treated the dangers of a journey to England with arrogant frivolity, and had only themselves to blame. The newspaper concludes by recalling that the Lusitania was built to recover the .blue ribbon of the Atlantic from Germany. Now she had gone to her death through a German torpedo.