THE "FRIGHTFULNESS" CAMPAIGN.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16194, 1 March 1917, Page 8

THE "FRIGHTFULNESS" CAMPAIGN.

SINKING OF THE- LACONIA

TJVO AMERICAN WOMEN DROWNED.

(Australian and N;Z. Cable Assn.) . LONDON, Feb. 27.

The 'Daily Chronicle's" Que-enstown correspondent states that- the Laconia was torpedoed without warning on Sunday inght.; The sea was comparatively calm. After the l second torpedo the vessel listed and the. boats .were launched with difficulty. There was fo panic.. The small loss of life was:.due to tho •exoel'ont. dlscinline. • ■

Besides twe] "American women believed to be --.drowned, four other Amerbans were, rescued after terrible experiences in the boats:.

A, steamer, bringnig 267 survivors, arrived at Queenstown. Tlie survivors were piclced up from- (light boats. Some of the survivors sa(V twentv-two vrerc drowned but. others say only 'ton wero missing.- - - . . *

SURVIVOR'S EXPERIENCES, *

AN AWFUL ORDEAL. '

The ''Daily Chronicle" states : that tlio latest' news from the Laconia is that [thirteen are. missing. : < The torpedo explosions-accounted ifor of the killed and wounded.

The engineering staff and firemen underwent an l awful ordeal, but were rr.ostlv piclced up. Father Warring states that when the ship .was torpedoed ho went into the 'i'Wwt, assigned to t him during boat drills. There was. a.little confusion owing to tlio exniosion . extinguishiag the olcctrio lights. the boat was being lowered the tackles jammed.

Dr Kennedy, seeing a boat at a very

dangerous angle,! cub: a, rope and'the boat reached the water. ■ A similar awficr.lir/ arose with WotlVer lifeboat. "On'e OL-jupants of the third lifeboat . were tin own mto the sea, including the two .Americans, Mrs and -Miss - Hooy. I here is .grave* reason to fear they were :i }pd. At the, very moment Father: \\ an jng's ... .lifeboat was being rowed"? irom, thii- another explosion was - ..big vessel rolled over.• wns twenty ..minutes between the two .torpedoes. v Captain Trvine now decided to abandon the ship. Tile wireless operators in tne meantime weiie hard at -noik sendlng irarless calls, and received a nrompt roTily from a warship, nnd from Queens-' town. Although the night was dark tlio moon came out occasionally a.iicp.-n- --- od u * f ° srand s'nsclacle of. the noblo ship disappearing beneath Thor were in the boat jtrom 9.30 p.m. untiln.m. There "o imme-I'.nte dan o'er though i n the h eayy Atla,n tic swell worn en were vor v ill. but all behaved admirably. Father 1 Warring thinks the deaths will not cxee<>d ten.: . ...■

Mrs Mdls, cJ- Tcn-oito, a saloon mv-sc-n.geiv said the experience was terrible f>no. Sho.wa.s with some womo'i in the dra.wjng mom when the torpedo striiclc t.ie ship. She instant]v knew what had happened. She lin.d been ■at boat drill several times, and she was able to util%.!&s%?*' r s ° ttins pa "" e AVben the submarine.: ca.mn to the' surra.re to make sure of "the Lacoma's ; a; man-in. one, said : to the submarine commander: .''Don't y'oil know, you have a"'ship e on : taining women and children ?" Ihp commander rnplied ■ "Thor are all right, f ov in a w ljollrs a natl . nl boat will picilc them: up." \

AMERICAN DEATfTS CONFIRMED. The deaths of Mrs and Miss JTdev arc confirmed ' DETAILS OF LOSS. (Renter's Telegrams.) .j r fj, lrce ,n? f the TO nger S arp the n-v> ree ' a !' e ; still missing. Six of the e.eiv are missing and six have been .toroovod to a hospital. ' ' 7 0 BOATS^ARKTVE. DEATHS FROM EXHAUSTION. fn.Tvlo ° f 1— Luconia 's boats containing, fomteen livmg and" eight, dead, from -•xJiausfaon have reached Bantrv; They ■had terrible experiences. Fifteen seamen wero saved. •••° A DOUBLE BLOW: (United Service.) .A correspondent attempted to'interview, over the telephone, Dr. Hoey who said - "I a man old man of 84. It is a terrible blow to me to lose my own dear wile and daughter too.". The conversation was broken off suddenly. The servants Inter said Dr.' Hoey had -collapsed completely and was now in bod. <:

CONFERENCE WITH PRESIDENT

PUBLIC OPINION ROBBED

PRESIDENT WILL TAKE TBIE

(Australian and In.Z. Cable Assn.'j • Mr Lansing went to White House to hold a conference with the 'President •this morninc. It is believed ho took the latest official details concerning the Lnconi::..

Public opinion is very angry at the deaths of Mrs and. Miss Hoey, and would support President Wilson if ho decides it was an overt act. but there are no indications of the President's course. It is expected he will await further details. PURTILISTiINKING S, CKEWS LAND. (Australian and N.Z. Ca'ole Assn.) LONDON, Feli. 27. Further sinkings are the British Headley, Seagull, -Alqtjers (2361 tons), and Aries (3071 tons).

Twolvo survivors of the Aries' crew have landed and also the Falcon's crew.

AN ACT"'OF WAR.. ARMED CONFLICT BROUGHT NEARER. (Australian and N.Z. Ca'ole Assn.) NEW YORK, Feb. 27. There is a ..growing tendency .anions; newspapers to demand action by President Wilson. The "Globs," commenting oil tho Lncouia incident, says that ■ Germany has committed an act of war. Only n miracle can now prevent armed conflict. I