JOY IN GERMANY AND AUSTRIA.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13774, 11 May 1915, Page 5

JOY IN GERMANY AND AUSTRIA.

RHINE TOWNS DECORATED.

HOLIDAY FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN

THE CRIME GLORIFIED

Berne, May 8

The sinking of the Lusitania was welcomed with great joy in Germany and Austria. The Rhine towns were beflagged.

It is stated that the Kaiser ordered the school children a half-holiday.

The majority of the German papers do not express regret at the piracy, and do not mention the danger to women and children. They add that as Americans were forewarned of the risks of the voyage, they must bear the consequences of war conditions.

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

A Berlin official message states that 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. It is hoped that the torpedoer rescued passengers where possible.