GERMAN COWARDICE.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14395, 24 April 1917, Page 5

GERMAN COWARDICE.

CABLE NEWS.

NAUSEATING SPECTACLE ON THE

LA -JFRANCaE.

RUSH FOR THE BOATS

APPEALS FOR PITY

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association)

(Received April 23, 10.35 p ; m.) London, April 23. ■I The La France- survivors' state that 200 Pi-ussiaii :Gimrdsn\en were on boards When the --torpedo &truek«4»he Prussians made; a;mad; rush.for; <the lifebbats, lieaxled •by rail officer. *A\ British.'; officer 'Shouted,.;' "Go, back." > Tho Prussian scowled and said, "You must •■have

£Pbzsß Association—Cofjjbighi.l

us." , He was told to_ wait his ti\rn. \ Other Prussians: dropped on"'their knees a.nd implored pity. Meanwhile the stretcher cases were brought on deck, and the first boats were lowered without delay. Many vessels hurried to the assistance of the La France. While the wounded Tommies, iiiany of whom. were helpless, lay'on the decks, the Prussian morale dropped to zero. Some .'Prussians' made a crazy effort to get into a boat, and when it was lowered it overturned. The Prussians were thrown into the water, and fought each other, in order to reach another boat containing a number of gravely wounded Britishers. - One .Britisher, whose leg was severed, lifted himself up the La France's staircase on his hands in order, to summon help to aid a Prussian who was unable to move owing to internal injuries.