SUBMARINE BLOCKADE

West Coast Times, 7 September 1915, Page 3

SUBMARINE BLOCKADE

BIC LINER TORPEDOED. MESPERLVN SUNK. Pee Press Association.—Copyright. LONDON'! Sept. 5. The Allan liner Hesperian was torpedoed off Fastnet. The passengers, numbering 900, and the crew were saved. , THE TORPDOEINC OF THE HESPERIAN. RLINOKD SOLDIKR RECOVKRS SIGHT. LONDON, Sept. 5. It i now believed that he Hesperian had 30 first class, 177 second, and 200 steerage passengers, who are being towed to Queenstown. Twenty of the crew are remaining aboard the vessel. She was torpedoed without warning, :■ ■■■ the bows. The two forward holds . t:il of ater. The explosion ii jured twenty passengers and a number of the crew. A Canadian soldier, who was blinded in France, entered a boat, which capsized. While swimming he discovered that the shock had restored his eye-sight. He is overjoyed.

TORPEDOED WITHOUT WARNING. A SMOOTH SEA AVERTS APALLINC LOSSES.

NO AMERICAN PASSENGERS ABOARD. BRITISH WARSHIPS RESCUE SURVIVORS. LONDON, Sept. 6. The Hesperian was steaming 16 knots when suddenly the cry “submarine on the starboard quarter” startled the passengers on the promenade decks after dinner. The shout had scarcely reached the bridge when an explosion like a cannon shot was heard. The vessel trembled violently and a column of water fifty feet in height shot- up flooding the deck. Many dashed to the cabins for lifebelts and there wtas much confusion but no panic. Captain Main sent out tbc wireless "S.O.S.’’ signal and fired rockets. to which three warship,, responded. The lowering of the boats in the darkness was a matter of difficulty, but the sea was like a glass lake, otherwise the loss of life would have been apalling.

(Inc lifeboat caps!,zed and the occupants were thrown into the water, snme swimming almnt for fifteen minutes before being picked up. All elderly lady was picked up dead from shock.

Others, disregarding the boats, slid Imui rop.-s nr dived into water, and as a e.-nlt fill persons were often in a boat i: Icm led tor 40 ami there was a danger if swamping owing to overcrowding. While awaiting, rescue the passengers wb i were in the best of snirits, sang

■'Tipperary.' 1 and others "Lead Kindly Light.’’

They anxiously awaited the expected final plunge of the Hesperian, but she remained afloat and continued sending up rockets.

The first warship arrived at 9.30 p.m. >nd took the survivors from the life's Kits, including twelve Canadian officers ■.ml thirty-eight wounded.

The American Consul has nut traced my 1 .S. passengers, though some of he crew are American.

The .submarine was within -JO,I yards then she launched her missile, which uissed the engineroom by twenty feet.

PRESIDENT WILSON REFUSES TO COMMENT. AWAITING DETAILS. WASHINGTON, Sept. C. President Wilson and Air. Lansing refused to comment on the torpedoing if the Hesperian and are awaiting details as to whether any Americans were aboard, and confirmation that the Hesrierian was not warned. The feeling in olncial circles is that relations are again endangered.