Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-29
REPORT SAID TO SHOW
SHIP WAS TORPEDOE:D
Captain, Officers and Men OF Nebras-
kan Reported as Unanimous
in This Belief.
DECLINE TO DISCUSS SUBJECT
Fine Progress Made in Pumping
Water Out, and 1t Is Hoped to Dry
Dock Vessel To-Day-Damagc Re-
sembleS Railway Wreck.
ny HAYDEN TALnnr.

| LIVERPOOL, May 29.-At an carly
hour this morning I learn from an
authoritative source that the report on
the Nebraskan incident to be sent to
Washington. signed by Consul General
/ Lee. Washington; Naval Constructor
Mcbride and Lieutenant Towers. will
state unequivocally that the ship was
! torpedoed
None of these three men would say
Ia word on the subject when ! qucs-
/ toned them regarding the results OF
their Investigations, but ] am able to
state positively that they received from
captain Green and the five officers and
every member OF the crew the unani-
| nous declaration that the Nebraskan
was torpedocd and not mined.
At midnight pumps were still busy
drawing off the water from the Ne
braskan's hold. But such good progress
had been made that the vessel is only
Ave feet down at the bow from the
normal water line. The whole crew
who are Americans throughout, are
standing by. working like trojans. 1t
is hoped to dry dock her to-day if room
can be found
The Canada dock, where the Ameri-
can-Hawaiian freighter is moored, was
crowded all day with shiphuilders. ma
rine architects, admiralty representa-
tives and just plain townfolk-all trc-
mendously interested In discovering
exactly how much damage subma-
rine torpedo can accomplish. Men re-
sponsible for the great transatlantic
liners went over the forepart of the
damaged ship inside and out
All these experts were one In ex-
preston of admiration for the masnifi-
cent thoroughness OF the Ncbraskan's
construction. From all OF them came
ungrudging praise for the strength OF
the forward bulkhead. which prevented
the ships sinking.
IN
out that If the torpedo had struck tho
ship few feet aft nothing could have
saved her.
RESEMBLES WRECKtGE
OF TRAIN COLLISION
The damage wrought rcsembled the
WreckaEe following hcad-on train
collision. rather than anything else
tha average mind would conceive
The Importance Of tho point whether
a torpedo or floating mine hit tho
Nebraskan was brought to Captain
Green's attention. Following the ar
rival OF tho ship In dock he was
patiently anxious to have It understood
he could not make definite state
ment as to what caused the explosion
on the other hand. the chief engineer
| (who also now seems less inclined to
name the thing" he saw approaching
the ship than ne was when | talked
| to him Thursday night. repeated his
statement that he did sec something
, coming through the water, leaving a
| white wake.
| Seafaring men and officials OF both
| the Cunard and White Star lines all
! declare the mine theory is Impossible,
, inasmuch as the Nebraskan was in the
! transatlantic liners path at the time
she was struck, and there are no mines
within many miles. The unwilling
ness of Captain Green to-day even to
repeat his statement regarding tho
perccptible interval between the first
shock and the second subsequent ex-
plosion followed a visit OF the embassy
attaches.
Captain Dodd, marine superintendent
OF the Cunard line, who is one OF the
most insistent advocates of the theory
that the Lusitania wasstruck by two
torpedoes, himself admitted that the
extent OF the damage wrought in this
. case Is quite beyond anything ne sup
posed single missile capable Of