The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-07
Big Cunarder, Hearing of Sub
marine Activity, Hauls Down
British Ensign
Foreign Office
Makes Statement
Government Declares 1t Had
No knowledge of Incident
ard Calls Attention to Law
On Subject

London, FEB. 6~Ihe &unHF0
liner Lusitania. which sailed from
New York, arrived at Liverpool
thi. morning Tying the American
has. On Friday morning Captain
Dow, of the Lusitanta. received ,
wireless from the Baltic. Of the
white star Lac, saying that Gerry
man submarines were In the Irish
Sea. whereupon the captain hauled
down the British ensign and h0ist-
ed the Stars and stripes. The Luz
situnin stopped on Queenstown and
was busy for an hour In seDding
wireless messages.
Captain BOWS explanation of his
action in hosting the American flag
was that he took this action In order
to save his passengers and the mails.
owing to the German threat, to sink
British ships.
The use of the American flag was
Immediately called 10 the attention of
the Foreign once by American news
paper correspondents. Nell Primrose,
the under secretary for foreign affairs,
exemplifying the friendliness felt for
Ameris. had previously arranged with
the cor to transmit anything by
cable that the correspondents might
desire. He said,
Foreign Oai~c Statement.
England desires neither suppress
ION nor compression. The foreign
once Is ignorant of the U1usitania
incident, but the merchant shipping
|act Of 1894 says that II a person used
the Britain nag. and assumes the Brit
ish national character aboard q ship
qcaIified to own a British ship, the
ship shall be subject to forfeiture I'M
less the act was done for the purpose
of escaping capture by an enemy. or
by a foreign warship in the exercise
hof its belligerent right. Therefore, II
England acknowledges and grants the
right of non-English ships to escape
capture England holds that she is en-
titled to the same privilege.
Undoubtedly Capt. Dow, as well as
other English captains and slip own
ers is familiar with act of 1894. which
is a perfect answer to the German
charge that England is notifying her
ships to use neutral flags. No such or
ders were ever issued by the British
Government
Weather Terrifying.
The Lusi Ania arrived after an ex-
citing passage. The ship was darken-
ed and ran at reduced speed. Only two
turbines were working on the fourth
day OF the voyage. The weather was
terrifying. Buffeted by great rollers.
which tossed the passengers bout like
dolls the Cunarder struggled through
the night. MofA-than dozen of the
saloon passengers were injured, the
cases including broken heads. broken
ankles, black eyes and chest injuries.
Miss McAdoo Aboard.
After leaving Queenstown, Captain
Dow worked every boiler and turbine
at top speed. as the Lusitania drove
through the Irish Sea. The passengers
were awake all night and were grave,y
anxious. Even the iron-hound rule
that pilot must be taken on was dis
regarded n. the ship dashed into tho
Mercy
Mark Sullivan. editor OF Golfers
Magazine. of New York. describing the
change If flag. said that the passeng-
ers were delighted. II submarine
had got the Lusitania America ana
Germany would be dangerously near
WAY, as Miss Mona McAdoo. daughter
III the Secretary OF the Treasury. ard
her friend. Miss Britton. who are GO
ing to France as nurses, and Colonel
F. NJ. House. who is supposed TO be
on diplomatic mission for the United
States, were on board.
Miss McAdoo is doubtful as 10 when
she will go to the front to take up her
work as a nurse. Colonel House diplo-
matically refused to discuss the sub
ject Asked about his mission, which
was reported to be for the purpose of
sounding Great Britain on her attitude
regarding the shipping bill pending in
the American Congress, Colonel House
replied that that was one bill in which
he had never taken any interest. Am
bassador Page met Colonel House at
Euston Station.
All OF the Lusitanias passengers
ere thankful that Captain Dow had
sed the device as a protection against
orpsdoes. : ~
A,;5.he American embassy no one in
uthority would discuss the Lusitania's
hange. of flag.