Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-18
COURT MAKES INQUIRY
INTO LUS|TAN|A's SPEED
Captain and Owners Blamed for
Holding Ship to Straight Course
at Eighteen Knots.
EASY TARGET FOR SUBMARINE
ShoM Secret Session Will Be Held
To-Day to Take Further Evidence
as to Whether Admiralty's Warm
ings Were Fully Observed.

LONDON. June 17-The public in
quiry into the sinking Of the Cunarder
Lusitania. by German submarine. was
ended late to-day a short secret ses-
sion will be held Tomorrow to take
1urther evidence as to whether Captain
Turner observed fully the admiralty.
warnings.
The speed of the Lusitania at the
time the torpedo hit her occupied the
courts attention this afternoon. Re-
plying to question by Baron Mersey
as to whether the vessels speed had
anything to do with the cataHtrophe.
a. Edwards. NJ. p, representing the
Seamen's Union, said 1t was obvious
that II n zigZaE course was an ele-
ment of safety. as the admiralty expert
had testified then the captain and own
ers OF the steamer Showed grave cul-
pabillty."
Mr. Edwards also asserted that the
evidence disclosed that the company
was economizing on the consumpti n
OF coal AS Captain Turner was hold
ing the ship to straight course at n
speed OF eighteen knots, he said, it was
easy for n submarine to take its propar
position. whereas IL the vessel had been
Zlgzagging, it would have been diff
| cult. IL not impossible, to tell where the
ship would pass.
The only other question on which
Baron Mersey desired light was the
statement OF D. A. Thomas, the coal
operator. that while first and second
passengers were calm. and the stewards
and stewardesses We're brave and help
full. the steerage passengers were in
confusion and members of the crew
were mainly interested In saving them
selves. giving a general appreciation of
lack Of discipline
PRESENTS STATISTICS
OF PEOPLE SAVED
Solicitor-Genernl Smith presented sta
tistics of those saved. showing that Al
per cent of the crew, ass per cent of
the male passengers. 3S.6 per cent of
the female passengers and 81 per cent
OF the children were rescued Mr..
Smith declared however, that these
figures did not give fair idea, as the
women and children were unable to
stand exposure. while the sailors and
passengers who were able to swim
were OF more hardy physique. Conse-
quently the number saved was not in
dicative whether tho crew took the
boats to the exclusion of passengers.
The outstanding questions Mr. Smith
said were the responsibility Of the
ships master and the company's action
in restricting the number OF boilers in
use.
When the hearing was resumed this
morning. Sir Edward Carson, the At
torney-General. expressed his convic-
ton that n second submarine was lying
in walt on the port side of the Lusi-
tania. Sir Edward made this statement
In reply to an argument put forth by
Baron Mersey, who said he thought a
mistake had been made by Seaman
ONeil, one OF the witnesses before
the court. who testified he had seen
tho wash OF torpedo passing the
stern OF the Lusitania from the port
to the starboard side immediately after
the liner had been hit on the starboard
side.
POSITIVE HE SAW
WASH OF TORPEDO
ONeill was formerly in tho navy. He
is positive that he recognized the wash
OF torpedo, although he did not see
the submarine which fred it from the
port side. His testimony was corrobo-
rated by another seaman witness. who
testified also that he saw the wash Of
two torpedocs from the starboard side.
These came forward in parallel lines
until they almost reached the ship.
Then they parted at a slight ANGLE.
first one and then the other strtkinc.
the Lusitania.
Captain w. T. Turner. Of the Lust-
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