SUBMARINES AND MINES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3197, 23 June 1915, Page 20

SUBMARINES AND MINES.

SEVERAL VICTIMS SECURED. LONDON, June 17. The Petrel, Explorer, and Japonica, trawlers from Aberdeen, were sunk by a submarine. - COPENHAGEN, June 17. The Danish steamer Kokostiober, bound for Leith with a cargo, was sunk by a submarine in the North Sea. Her crew ■were saved. LONDON, June 17. The steamer Strathnairn, bound from Cardiff to Archangel with coal, was torpedoed without warning off the South Bishops. The second mate and 10 Chinese landed at Milford Haven, but it is feared that the captain and 22 of the crew are drowned. A submarine exploded the Booth steamer Trafford off the coast of Pembrokeshire, The Trafford sank, but her crew were saved. The Swedish Consul at Archangel has warned the Government that the Arctic Ocean has been sown with mines by the Germans to hinder munitions reaching Russia. AMSTERDAM, June 18. A German cruiser sank the Norwegian steamer Granit, of Christiansand. THE LUSITANIA. OFFICIAL INQUIRY CONCLUDED. LONDON, June 17. The Lusitania inquiry has concluded, except for a private sitting relating to the navigation of the vessel. Sir E. Carson, K.C. (appearing for the Board of Trade), produced official evidence showing that there was nothing in the cargo which the law of the United States did not allow to be shipped by a passenger steamer. Mr Bakoi-, a passenger, gave evidence as to the lack of a complement of men for lowering the boats. He said that Staffcaptain Anderson ordered the women and children out of some boats, saying there was no danger, and that the ship w T as not going to sink. Sir E. Carson pointed out that there was no confirmation of this. Mr Thomas (ship owner) gave evidence that a number of the crew did not obey the order “ Women and children first,” but tried to save themselves. In the House of Commons Mr Ginn ell suggested that they should utilise neutral divers to ascertain whether there was ammunition on the Lusitania. Mr Hunciman said he doubted the practicability of the proposal, owing to the depth of the wreck and the presence of enemy craft.