Evening star., 1915-05-10
Asks Details Be Omitted Now.

Asks Details Be Omitted Now
edge of the German warning issued in
America" Mr. Churchill declared. and
from that knowledge and other infor-
nation concerning submarine move
ments il sent warnings to the Lusi-
tania and directions as to her course. ]
think. however, il not right 20 go into
that matter in detail. as il is going to
be a subject of inquiry and il might
appear that ] was endeayorins 10 throw
blame on the captain of the Lusitania
in 4 matter which Will be a subject OF
full investigation.
Continuing. Mr.. Churchill said this in :
vestiaation would be conducted by Lord
Mersey. assisted by skilled assessors,
and that it would he opened without
avoida BILE delay.
Mr.. ChurchiIls : remarks were drawn
by questions from Lord Charles Beres-
ford and others asking for details to
what speed the I-uscitania was making
when she was torpedoed; whether there
was i patrol boat in that locality;
whether all points where vessels arrive
and depart are now adequately pa
trolled. what provisions We're made IN
the case OF the Lusitania IN view Of
the warning issued i'll America:
whether Mr.. Churchill was aware that
previously to last Friday German sub
marines had for some time been active
ly at work on the south coast of Ire
land: whether he was aware that the
admiralty had provided torpedo boat
destroyers and other naval vessels to
meet on tie south coast of Ireland
steamers carrying horses from the
United States on government account
to convoy them to Liverpool, and final
ly, what arrangements. if any. were
made to convoy and protect the Lusi-
tania"
Mr.. Churchill, replying 10 further
questions, spoke as follows:
The shocking exception Of the Lusi-
tania should not divert the attention of
the house of commons and the country
from the fact that Great Britains en-
tire seaport trade has been carried on
without appreciative loss. The general
principle regarding the providing Of an
escort is that merchant traffic must
look after itself. subject to the general
arrangements of the admiralty. and
there is no reason to suppose that this
principle Is not entirely successful"
Warned Shortly Before Disaster.
Andrew Bonar Law, leader Of the op-
position in the house, asked if amy
answer had been received from the
captain of the Lusitania showing that
the admiralty instructions to the liner
had come to his hand. Mr.. Churchill
replied that both messages had been
acknowledged. The second acknowI-
edgment came a very short time be-
fore the attack was made.
Lord Charles Beresford then inquired
il Premier Asouith had received his
letter of April Is warning him of the
peril that had met the Lusitania and
whether this warning had gone un-
needed. Mr.. Churchill answered that
Premier Asauith had handed him Lord
Beresford's letter and that il had been
carefully studied at the admiralty. So
far from being unheeded, a great many
OF the measures recommended already
had been adopted on the largest pos
sible scale.
Asked if the German submarine which
sank the Lusitania was of 4 larger
type than anything known prior to
April IA, Mr.. Churchill replied: Il have
no knowledge of the size or number of
this submarine.
Questioned regarding letter sent to
the admiralty ten days ago giving in
formation concerning the supposed
type of this submarine. Mr.. Churchill
said the information contained In this
communication was wholly untrue, and
that the facts which had given rise TO
the supposition were known to the adj
mirality.
Murder Most Foul, Most Unnatural.
Our enemies have reached degree
of infamy. eliminating in the destfuc-
ton Of the Lusitania, which II Is SIM
ply hopeless to attempt to describe,
said Andrew Bonar Law. leader OF the
opposition in the house Of commons, in
a speech today. Mr.. Bonar Laws re-
marks We're delivered on the occasion
of the presentation of medal to Capt.
Bell of tho British steamship Thordis,
which rammed a German submarine off
Beachy Head in February.
This is not an act of warfare" Mr..
Bonar Law continued. 1T is simply
murder. most foul. most unnatural"
Saying that up to the present no "ef-
fective protest had been made by any
neutral country, he added:
What will happen now? The great,
proud nation--the United , States--is