The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-05-15
ROBSON BLAMES BRITISH FOR
 LOSS OF AMERICANS LIVES.
Declares England Is Trying to Embro United States War-Accuses Cnnard Line Officials of Taking Pas sengers When Company Knew Submarines Were Waiting in Track In Bridgeport Today

E.,vvva.- r.ov4g-esz1,n Richard Pear son Hohson of Alabama who is In this city today, has issued statement blanfng the British for the loss or Arnerican lives on the I.'asdta1aia- A A widowed cousin of his was warned secretly by an agent of the Cupard line not to take passage on the Lus1ta I1s-, because the vesse1 was under orders of Efhe British Aadxniralty according to Q Statement isssued yesterday by Corl- eressnan Hobson through his brotn- er-in-law George H. Hull. IT., So Pine street
 From Torrington MT. Hobson telez phoned the statement in which he at tackea the British on the ground thai fhev left the Isa1sitan1a open to sub marine attack to ernbron this. country He criticises this government Tor fall .ure to ascertain the facts by anvestig gl- ton through naval court
 "A Nzfdowed cousin of mine applied 1 af the New Yorki offlce of the Cunazsd line for passage on the L.usita1lia, Congressraan Hobson said The booking agent, an old friend, took her apart and told her that the vessel was Iacting under A Admiralty orders and that she simply must not take passasse on it- He pledged her toS secrecy ured l after fhe trip. This fact brings UP pertinent questions
 why did not the Cunard Co., give to all parties applying for passage the same hume are advice it's agent. for old friendships sake, gave to my cousin instead Of loading the vessel down with a full passenger list iHcludine m many disting s uished Americans whose loss would necessarily strike the American imagination
 eKnowing that German submarines were operating south Of the Ir1sE coast. why did not the British AdTni- faIty. which controlled the Lusfta aria's movements. order her to use the unin- Tested route around the north of Ire land
 ssvuhy was the ship. having speed of 251k knotsAa very substantial aid to security ordered by the Britisf Adrniraityt to slow down to 1T knots 1T the danger zone
 ssHoSw could a torpedo sink such ship in 20 minutes An e1ementar1 lxnovvledge Of naval architecture woule convince anyone that such a. thing f inapossibIe unless there was contrib 1Itiraey cause inside the vessel, such a open wa4er-tight doors or inside ex plosion.
 ..sV11y was there no protecting con voys in the danger zone
 Why was there no consort for tn great ships passensArs' lives, ready fo rescue work?
 ssE1ay was there no preparation along shore Why was rescue worl so slow in reaching the scene
 seWhy was it possible, in a smootl sea within sight of lands in the midd1 of the day. to lose so many lives7
 tsET 1ay was the censorship throw open to all the Narrowing detail throughout the. slow and inexplicabl work of the recovery of the bedie. while secrecy was ordered for the Ad Tniralty instructions. under which tn ship proceeded to it's doom2
 ssThe Presidents note to Germany firm and ynasterfu1, but it's central de rnand of immunity of American live on merchant vessels, assumed ths these vessels will be unarmed and UT < resisting toward enemy war vesse and, in virtue of which non-Tesistenc intern ationaI law gives them the rig1 Of immunity of life
 e.The order of the British Admira1t instructing British merchantmen to a tack with the ram German subrnarins on sight makes all the British me- chant vessels armed and resisting tt