Haverfordwest and Milford Haven Telegraph

The Sinking of the Lusitania.

A rumour that the famous ocean liner, the Lusitania, had been sunk by a German submarine, was current in Haverfordwest on Friday afternoon, but people pooh poohed the idea that such a thing could have happened. "How," they asked, "could a slow-moving submarine torpedo a liner going at 25 knots?" Saturday morning, however, brought melancholy confirmation of the news that the world-renowned Cunarder, the vessel that had snatched the blue riband of the Atlantic from the Germans, was the latest victim of the hate of the Hun.


According to a statement issued by the Cunard Co.'s representative at Queenstown on Monday, the total number of saved is 764. The figures for the living and the dead, therefore, as ascertained up to date are: -
Total on board........................1906
Total saved...........................764
Total lost............................1142
Large numbers of survivors were landed at Fishguard, whence they proceeded to their homes or other destinations.


Among the passengers who sailed on the ill-fated Lusitania, and of whom no news is up to the present forthcoming, was Mr. Owen Ladd, brother of Mr. Ladd, manager to the Haverfordwest Co-operative Society. Mr. Ladd, who was a native of Eglwysswrw, was a jeweller and had been in Winnipeg, Canada, some 3½ years, previous to which he had managed a shop at Pentre, Rhondda, for nine years. He was coming to Liverpool and afterwards proposed visiting his parents in North Pembrokeshire and his brother at Haverfordwest, and, we understand, had some idea of offering his services for King and Country. Mr. Ladd was a single man, about 33 years of age and had written home two days before the Lusitania sailed, giving his parents particulars of the time he hoped to arrive and other details.


Among the survivors was Mr D. A. Thomas, who was a passenger with his secretary, and his daughter Lady Mackworth. Mr Thomas or "D. A.," as he is familiarly known in coal and shipping circles, is of course the famous S. Wales Colliery magnate. He was formerly M.P. for Merthyr and for Cardiff. He has local connections from the fact that his sister was the late Mrs Howells, of Trewellwell, mother of Capt. Jack Howell, Pembrokeshire Yeomanry, and Master of the Pembrokeshire Foxhounds.


Another victim of the disaster who has local connections was Mr Harry Thomas, of Liverpool. He was a nephew of Mr Arthur Thomas, the county surveyor, and a cousin of Mr Harry Mathias, of Mr Hugh Thomas's office. Mr Thomas was a steward on the Lusitania for some time, and subsequently served on the Aquitania, but was transferred to the Lusitania again. He was only 22 years of age and was an occasional visitor to friends in Haverfordwest. He is said to have been in company with another steward who was without a lifebelt. Mr Thomas heroically gave up his own to his comrade. The last that was seen of him was when he was standing beneath a falling boat, which, it is feared, crushed him to death.

Mr Harry Thomas was a son of Mr George Thomas, of Haverfordwest.


Also among the missing passengers is Mr Henry Adams, a native of Tenby, and manager of the American branch of the Mazawattee Tea Company, who was bringing home his newly-wedded wife. It is surmised that this gentleman was once well-known in Haverfordwest as a traveller for a tea firm. He bore the sobriquet of the "Whistling Traveller," and was in great request at concerts, etc.




Fifty survivors, most of them women, were landed at Fishguard on Sunday morning. The men folk were most enthusiastic in praise of their behaviour. Among them was a Greek lady, an expert swimmer. She had been put into boat by her husband, who said he would find her later. While in the boat, however, she saw one of the funnels fall and kill him. The lady was wearing a sailor's sweater and trousers when she came ashore. The Rev. A. S. Guyer, another survivor landed in Pembrokeshire, said that many people lost their lives owing to the ropes breaking while the boats were being lowered. This gentleman also saw the crew of the submarine standing on her looking at the result of their work. The Lusitania, when she finally sank, actually fell on some of her boats, taking them down with her. This clergyman's wife had an awful ordeal. She was in the same boat as her husband at first, but the suction from the sinking Lusitania partially upset it and she was thrown out. The vessel's funnels were at the moment practically level with the surface of the sea, and into one of these Mrs Guyer was drawn. Then, as suddenly, she was shot out again, half-blinded with smoke. She was assisted into another boat. When those poor folk were landed at Fishguard the gangways were lined with a double file of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, who presented arms.


Indignation at the outrage has resulted in riots against aliens of German, Austrian, and Turkish extraction. At Smithfield, alien butchers were refused their supplies of meat. At Liverpool there were no less than ten fires on alien premises. At Manchester several shops and houses were stormed and a firm employing foreigners was compelled to close down. Naturalised and in-naturalised enemy aliens were forbidden the use of the Stock-Exchange. In London feeling rose to fever heat and Stock-Exchange demands the expulsion of alien members. Martial law has been declared in Vancouver, B.C. on account of the Anti-German riots. A general demand has been expressed for the internment of all enemy aliens. In fact a large number of the latter have applied for voluntary internment, as they go in fear of their lives while remaining at large.


There will be no Cunard sailing on Saturday next, and the sailing of the Mauretania has also been cancelled for 29th May.


Capt. Turner, giving evidence at the inquest held at Kinsale on Monday on some of the victims, said he was in wireless communication with the shore all the way across, and had received warning regarding submarines, but had not received a message as to the sinking of a ship off the Old Head of Kinsale on Wednesday. He had received special instructions from the Admiralty as to the course he should follow. In face of German warnings that the Lusitania would be torpedoed he did not ask the Admiralty for an escort. "I left that to them," he said, "It is their business and not mine. I simply had to carry out my orders to go, and I would do it again." The speed had been reduced to 18 knots because he wanted to arrive at Liverpool bar without stopping and within two or three hours of high water.


The jury returned a verdict of "Wilful murder" against the officers of the submarine, the German Emperor, the Government of Germany.


Mr Churchill, questioned in Parliament, said that instructions to follow a certain course had been sent to the Lusitania, and these would form the subject of a full inquiry to be conducted by Lord Mersey. The resources of the Admiralty would not enable them to supply an escort for merchant and passenger ships.


The guilty submarine, from German information, has been identified as the U39.

(Haverfordwest and Milford Haven Telegraph, 12th May 1915)