ECHOES OF THE WAR

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1314, 1 July 1915, Page 3

ECHOES OF THE WAR

The Parisian daily papers, reach the French troops every morning, and •ar > rarely more than a day late.

Since the war began near’y 30.000 officers have been appointed to the British Army.

Oliver P. Bernard, a scenic artist <>t Covent Garden Theatre, and husband of Miss Muriel Terry, who was travelling on the Lusitania, was one of those who really saw the torpedo discharged. He said-' ‘'l saw the periscope of a submarine 200 yards away and then noticed a long white streak of foam which gave me the impression of frothy fizzing in the water. A woman and two men came up to me and exclaimed ‘ls that a torpedo? I felt too sick to answer and turned away spellbound, knowing too well that, it was a torpedo. The feeling at that moment was unutterable. When the torpedo came within a yard or two T covered my eyes and corked my ears. I did not want to hear the explosion. The shot was perfectly aimed. When 1 no explosion occurred 1 was looking foiward, and the debris, dust and water shot up in an immense column through the entire superstructure of the vessel above the bridge. Hundreds must have been blown to atoms, including the stokers and trimmers, to say nothing of the men and women in the forward cabins who were about to come on deck." Captain llen 'erson. master of the cargo steamer Berwick Law. which has arrived in Lyttelton from New York, via Panama Canal, states, that when ho was in the American capital the war in Europe appeared to be the chief topic of conversation. In spite of the large number of Germans to be found in the United States 'he was firmly of opinion that the general opinion of the populace was in favour of the Allies. This was particularly not ici able in regard to the expression <•’’ the various metiopi .tan daily newspapers. There was no doubt •that England, as the result of her supremacy on the sea. was being assisted considerably by the Americans as. far as the supplv of munitions was concerned. Before leaving he had been informed that some guns of a very lagre calibre were being sent to England, while assistance was also being given in several other respects. Speaking of the Panama Canal, and its advantages to the meicantile marine. Captain Henderson, said that the principal drawback to the waterway at present was the land sli les which occurred in the Culebra Cut. His own ship had been delayed a little. I be frequent breaking away of the hills entailed very heavy expenditure and con■stant dredging. Vessels, too., could be piloted through only during daylight. There was no doubt, however, that considerable improvement would be effected

in line course. The news of the sinking if the tine Ctinard liner Lusitania was earned only when the ship arrived in rhe stream at Lyttelton.

It is staled on good authority (says the Fielding -‘Star") that every eligible young man within live miles of Kimbolton has volunteered for active service, with only two exceptions.

It ’”as computed in Petrograd that a mii’.ion Austro-German troops were surrounding Przemysl before the evacuation.