New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-07
Dramatic Dash Through Irish Sea.

DfdWdtiC DdsH tHTouKH tfisH ccd.
According to her passengers, the big
liner made a dramatic dash at the end
Of the voyage, tearing through the
Irish Sea at forced draft and finally
steaming into the Mersey in safety.
When the passengers arrived at Euston
station they had stirring tale to tell
of the manner in which word was re-
ceived that submarines were near Liv-
erpool. Will Irwin, describing the trip
to the Tribune representative, said:
1--WE had a terribly rough voyage and
the passengers were knocked about un-
mercifully. When we nesred the Irish
coast wireless reports told Of the pres-
ence of German submarines in the
Irish Sea. Many passengers became
nervous and the last night out a large
number sat up.
an the early part Of the voyage the
Lusitania did not go at fast clip; in
fact only two engines were used, but
when we neared Queenstown, off which
port we lay to for an hour, it seemed
as il all the engines we're used, for we
raced through the Irish Sea and into
the River Mersey. One man had both
ankles badly injured In the toughest
part of the trip and many others were
bruised painfully. | think it ole OF
the roughest trips the Lusitanis ever
made"
Mr.. Irwin said the Lusitsnia carried
the regulation large American flag at
her stern, with a small American flag
and mail pennant at the fore peak. La
fayette Young, ex-senator from Iowa.
another passenger, while he did not
personally see the flag flying. said it
was accepted as a fact by all on board
Use of Flag Defended.
Colonel and Mrs. House, in whose
party were Miss Mona McAdoo and MISS
Brinton, were met at the station by
Ambassador Page. Colonel House told
of the rough trip, and said his pres
ence here had no especial significance.
Miss McAdoo said she and Miss brin-
ton would leave for France in fe"
davs. but was not certain yet where
they would be assigned TO assist IN
hospital work, adding that they prob
ably would stay in France two or
three months.
Officials would not admit tonight
that the recent German statement that
the British government ordered the
use of neutral flags was true. How
ever. il was said in official quarters
that the use Of the American nag ia
the circumstances was not contrary 10
International law. II was cited that
the British law permitted the use OF
tho British flag by persons otherwise
unauthorized to use IL IL for the pur-
nose Of escaping a hostile vessel. THIS
being a right which Great Britain ad-
mits il il contended that British ships
reciprocally have the same right.
Tho British merchant shipping act
nassed in 1894 contains the Following
paragraph: n... aI
assumes the British national character
on hoard a ship owned in whole or IN
mart bv persons unqualified 70 own
british ship, for the purpose Of max
inc the ship appear 20 be English. the
ship shall be subject TO forfeiture un-
der this act unless the assumption has
been made for the purpose OF escaping
capture by the enemy or by foreign
shin of war in the exercise OF some
belligerent right
Used to Protect Americans.
A more potent reason for the action
Of the captain Of the Lusitanis,
however, is that he used the
American flag for the protection OF
American passengers. Certainly all the
passengers aboard the vessel took this
view and were delighted that the flag
WAS Of service 20 them. u Is held that
in view of the German threat 10 blow
up merchant vessels possibly without
warning the Lusitania's captain Was
justified in flying the American flag II
for no other reason than that its eN-
hibition might cause a German subma-
rine to pause before firing and stop
ping the ship for investigation. which
would give an opportunity for putting
the passengers into boats.
Developments are awaited with the
kcenest interest. the possibility of AN
American protest being somewhat snX-
iously considered. II Is confidently eN-
pected that the German propagandists
will make much of the incident, but IL
is not believed that the American gov