The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-30
RECORDS SHOW NO
GUNS ON LUSITANIA
German Contention DisprOved
by Statement Collector
Malone Made.
HAD ONLY CARTRIDGES

The contention In the German reply
to President Wilson'S note that the Lusi-
tania was armed with two mounted guns
concealed on board was answered on
May 9 by Dudley Field Malone. Collector
Of the Port Of New York. In reply to u
similar German statement Collector
Malone on tnsfrouy said that the Lust
sania sailed unarmed and that the Ger
man statements that she carried guns
were untrue
This report is not correct" Nj. Ma
lone said THE Lusitania was Inspected
before she sailed. as usual. No guns
were found. mounted or unmounted.
She sailed unarmed No merchant ship
would he allowed to arm in this port and
leave the harbor.'
on the same day. and replying to the
same German statements. Herman Win
ter. head OF the Cunard passenger de-
partment in New York, s1id:
There is absolutely no truth in the
report that the Lusitania was armed
with inch or any other guns. The
u
armament or as freight, at any time in
her existence. either before the war be-
gan or afierward.
Only Cartridges Carried.
1T is not true that she carried am
muntion in the sense that she was
loaded with explosives or picrlc acid.
That would have been in violation o.
the statute. It is true that she carried
more than 1000 cases Of Remington cart
ridges. which she was permitted to carry
as commercial freight. As for the cart.
ridges being contraband Of war. even
woollen sweaters are contraband OF war,
She did have few unloaded shrapnel
shells but she absolutely carried no high
explosives"
The Cunard company issued "A state
ment in reply TO the German statements
in London on the same day. This state
ment. signed by A. A. Booth, was AZ
follows:
AS regards the allegation of the
German Embassy at Washington that
the Lusitania carried guns. the Lusi-
tania was not armed in any way. She
was built under the company's agree
ment with the British Government, un-
der which she could be requisitioned
for service as an armed cruiser. AS
matter OF fact she never was so used
at any period of her career and no guns
of any description whatever were ever
put aboard the ship.
ANY statement to the contrary is
entirely false and is typical of the Ger
man method OF covering the wilful mur-
dering OF non-combatants and chill
dren."
Presidents Views ON Point.
President Wilson's views of the char
acter of tho Lusitania as a merchant
ship and not as an auxiliary cruiser
are indicated by these passages in the
note which was transmitted to Ger
many on May l3
This Government has already taken
occasion to inform the Imperial Ger
mhn Government that II cannot admit
the adoption of such measures or such "A
warning OF danger to operate as in any
degree an abbreviation of the rights Of
American sh!pmasters or of American
citizens bound on lawful errands as
passengers on merchant ships Of bellig-
erent nationality and that 1t must hold
the Imperial German Government to
strict accountability for any infringe
ment OF these rights, intentional or in
cldental.
1T does not understand the Imperial
German Government to question those
rights. 1t assumed. on the contrary,
that the Imperial German Government
accept as OF course the rule that the
lives of non-combatants. whether they
be of neutral citizenship or citizens of
one OF the nations at war. cannot law
fully or rightfully be put In jeopardy
by the capture or destruction OF an un-
q rmed merchantmen and recognizes
also, as all other nations do the opiga-
tion to take the usual precaution of visit
and search to ascertain whether a sus-
pected merchantmen Is in fact OF bel
ligerent nationality or Is in fact carry
Ing contraband Of war under . neutral
nag"