The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-15
Investigation of Sea Horror Is
Opened i'm London.
NO GUNS ABOARD-TURNER
Captain of Ill-Starred Ship Cor
rObOrates Attorney General.
Public Interest in Case ThrOngs
the Court Room.

London, June 15.-'"The Lusitania
was not armed and she never was fit
ted out as a transport
This was one of the remarks made
by Sir Edward Carson, attorney gen.
eral in the new cabinet. in address
ing the court today at the opening OF
the board of trade inquiry into the
loss of the Cunard liner which was
sent to the bottom off the south coast
of Ireland, May Z, by a German sub
marine with a loss of more than 1,100
lives. 81
Baron Mercy, president of . the
court, is assisted by Admiral Str
Frederick Englefield and Lieutenant
Commander Hearn, as naval assessors.
and Captain Davies and Captain
Speeding of the mercantile marine
Attorney General Carson and Fred
of trade, while the Cunard company
and the passengers of the Lusitania,
including the late Alfred G. Wander
bilt, all were represented by counsel.
Courts Fullest Inquiry.
Public interest in the case was evil
denced by the large number of spec
tators who crowded the court. Sir
Edward Carson, who opened for the
board of trade, said he courted the
fullest inquiry. He was able to give
complete denial to the contention of
the German government that the Lusi-
tania was an armed vessel carrying
naval forces of Great Britain.
I'm their note to Germany" the
speaker said, "the United States al
ready have officially denied this, and
the evidence 1 propose to call will con-
firm and fully prove the remarks of
the American government that the
Lusitania was not and she never had
been fitted a transport.
Two Torpedoes; Maybe Three.
without warning, a German sub
marine fired two torpedoes at the
Lusitania and it is believed that
third projectile also was fired. Such
an act was not only contrary to inter-
national law, but it is contrary to the
dictates of civilization and humanity.
To attack passengers in this manner
was a deliberate attempt at murder"
Continuing, Sir Edward remarked
that the question of speed would be
important. The Lusitania was going
eighteen knots, using only nineteen out
of her twenty-five boilers in conse-
quence of the decreased traffic. thus
saving a quarter of her total coal con-
sumption and a proportionate amount
in labor.
Certain specific information was
sent by the British admiralty by wire
less telegraphy to the Lusitania, but
these instructions are not to be made
public and this part of the evidence is
to be taken in private
Premeditated Murder.
at is quite evident" said the attor-
ney general, that one of the main
reasons for the consideration of the
court will be these instructions and
how far the captain of the Lusitania
acted upon them.
LAS a rule the first question to be
decided in an investigation of this kind
is how the accident occurred. In this
case we know that there was no ac-
cident and that there was a premedi-
tated design to murder
Captain Turner of the Lusitania,
examined by the attorney general. said
the ship was not armed, either for Of
fense or defense, and carried no mask
ed guns. He confirmed Sir Edwards
statement to the speed OF the Lust
tania and the number of her boilers
in operation.
The ca plain estimated that ten sec
onds after the Lusitania was struck
it was impossible to stand on deck.
He said the three difficulties in
rescuing passengers were the list of
the ship, her headway, which car
ried her two or three miles after be-
ing struck, and the shortness of time.
The captain said he did not see
Mr.. Vanderbilt.
The public hearing then was sus-
pended while the court took evidence
in camera regarding the instructions
of the admiralty.