SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 666, 29 March 1916, Page 8

SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN.

SHEER BLOOD LUST. TORPEDOING OF THE SUSSEX. ■■Tims*" and "Sytlne'i S Jtn " ftrrricen. LONDON, March 27. Details of the sinking of the Sussex show that ihe passenger who had both legs cut off was Prince (iohrani, of Persia. An American givl saved a man's life by pressing an arlcry with her lingers for two hours.

At I he inquest on (Ik- victims of (lie Sussex outrage, Hie verdict recorded that the ship was torpedoed. All the 27) Americans on hoard the! Sussex were saved. "The Times," in a leader, says:—l "In torpedoing the Sussex, the Kai-1 ser's favourite service intended a! wholesale murder similar to the dynamiting of an hotel. Obviously the motive was terrorism or sheer blood lust, (lerinany cannot hope by this fresh outburst of savagery to inspire the terror which the sinking of the Persia, the Falaba, the Lusilania, and the Arabic Failed to create; therefore we are compelled; to regard her latest crime as i\m' .to; mere primitive, barbarous blood j hist." FEELING IN AMERICA. SITUATION AGAIN "ACUTE." WASHINGTON, March 21. The situation is acute. The Government is endeavouring lo determine beyond doubt how I he Sussex and the Englishman were destroyed. Following on a conference between President Wilson and Mi' Lansing, Secretary of State, a high oflieial stated that diplomatic relations between America ami Germany will probably be broken off if it is proved that the Sussex was torpedoed. Before taking action, President Wilson will lay the situation before Congress, as the breaking off of diplomatic relations will probably mean war. The correspondent of the Associated Press announces authoritatively that Germany believes that the Sus-

sex was sunk by a mine, but if she was torpedoed Germany is prepared to disavow the act and punish the commander of the submarine. The correspondent states that ! Count Bernstorff had a good deal to do with the retirement of Admiral von Tirpitz, whose views regarding submarine warfare conflicted with his own. RECENT LOSSES. EIGHT NEUTRALS INCLUDED. liy CobU.- Pievx Itxoeialion.—Vopi/righJ.. LONDON, March 27. Since March 16, when a German official statement .announced that "our submarine campaign is in full swing," 2(1 vessels have heen sunk, apart from the Sussex (which was towed into port seriously damaged). The destroyed were as follow: ' British Ift I'rcnch 2 Norwegian I Dutch 2 Danish 'i total 20 One hundred and sixty-three members of the crew of the Minneapolis have landed at Malta.