The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1915-05-13
THINK INTERNAL EXPLOSION
ASvi\ED SHIPS SINKING

THINK INTERNAL EXPLOSION
FASTENED SHIPS SINKING.
London, lcnglaud.-The Cunard
line steamship Lusitanin. which was
sunk last week oil Old Head OF Kin
sale by a submarine was struck by
only one torpedo, according to the
testimony OF Captain Turner OF the
steamer. given al the coroner's in
quest at kinsnle. But this deadly
missile found a vital spot and sent
the liner to the bottom in less than
20 mimau,es, carrying witli her over
900 persons.
1T was also disclosed today by Cap
tain Turner, and by Winston Spencer
Churchill, first lord al the admiralty
in a statement in the house OF COM
mons, that the captain had received
wireless adyices from the admiralty
in regard to the liners course. Cap
tain Turner in his testimony said
he had followed this advice "to The
best of my ability The character
of The advice rendered by the admir-
atty was not divulged and will not
be until Lord Nursey opens his in
quiry itno the loss of the ship.
Internal Explosion Also"
Meanwhile the cause for the heavy
loss of life and the absence of naval
escort for the threatened vessel and
the ~SuddcnneSs with which she sank
afford room for much speculation.
Captain Turner, in declaring that one
torpedo did all the damage, said the
second explosion which the passen-
gers heard was an internal n and
that the engines have been put out
of commission, it was impossible to
stop the Lustiania and permit the
boats being lowered properly.
This idea OF an internal explosion
is supported by naval experts. who
point out that if the torpedo would
Only have been disabled or had one
or two of her compartments flooded.
1t is evident, however, they say, that
il the torpedo penetrated the hnll
and the charge of 420 pounds o
explosive was d%etonatcd, it would
have created an effect similar to the
explosion OF Il magazine within a
ship. There is little wonder. there
fore, they say, that the Lusitania
sank so rapidly or chat so many per
sons were Killed by the fumes OF the
explosive.
On the question of why no naval
escort accompanied the L%usitania,
49, Riiii ChIJibiiIlA III WV iiou1N
of commons that the policy OF the
admiralty is that merchantmen
should look after themselves. This
policy was due to the fact that the
admiralty had not sufficient destroy
ers to escort all merchant ships, they
being required to guard the continu.
Gus stream OF transports from Eng
land 10 GRANGE and to protect the
English coast from German raids
Naval observers are of the opinion
that the use OF d~estroyers for the
protection of shipping is probably
what the Germans are trying to force
England to do, but they say that the
admiralty, With its eye first on the
naval and the military needs of the
country, viii not divert its ships for
other purposes. Some OF the mem
bers OF the house OF commons, how
ever, express the belief that a steam
err that is particularly threatened
with The destruction should be es-
pecially protected and that the mat
ter OF conveys doubtless viii be fur
Their discussed in parliament.
British Are Angcrcd.
All this discussion, however. has
not lessened the anger Of the people
at the action of Germany which le-
suited in the loss of so many lives of
non-combatants. Throughout the
country this anger has found express
sion in many ways. In some towns
where there are considerable Ger
man population, rioting has occurred.
while more staid business men have
decided to exclude all men of enemy
countries aad ven n~aturalized Brit
ishers OF German descent from the
exchanges OF the country.
Another effect of the sinking of
the Lnsitania has been to boom re-
cruiting. Every recruiting office re
ported today that more men had pre-
sented themselves for service than
for weeks past, The main hall of
the chief recruiting office in London
was crowded all day With men wait
ing for medical examination.
The boom also was helped by a
German air raid on South End and
the vicinity early yesterday. Alto
getheIs the airmen dropped 120
bombs. but strongly only two deaths
resulted. An old woman was killed
in her bed and her husband, who had
attempted to rescue her, died from
injuries received in jumping from II
window. The material damage caus7
cd by the fire started by the bombs
is estimated nj $40 ono