Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-16
INQUIRY INTO SINKING
OF LUs|TAN|A BEGINS
Sir Edward Carson, Attorney Gen
eral in New Cabinet, Opens for
London Board of Trade.
DENIES THAT LINER WAS ARMED
Cunard Company and Passengers
Represented by Counsel-Large
Number of Spectators Present.
Some Evidence Taken in Private.

LONDON. June 15.-"The Lusitania
was not armed, and she never was fitted
out as transport" said Sir Edward
Carson. Attorney-General in the new
Cabinet In addressing the court of in
quiry this morning at the opening Of
the Board of Trade inquiry into the
loss Of the Cunard liner. which was
sunk off the Irish coast on May by
German submarine. with n loss of
over 1.100 lives.
Baron Mersey. president of the court,
is assisted by Admiral Sir Frederick
Englefield and Lieutenant Commander
Hearn, as naval assessors. and Captain
Davies and Captain Speeding, Of the
mercantile marine. Attorney General
Carson and Frederick r. Smith repre-
sented the Board of Trade, while the
Cunard Company and the passengers
OF the Lusitania, including the late
Alfred G.. Vanderbilt, all were repre-
sented by counsel.
large number Of spectators
crowded the court.
Sir Edward Carson, who opened for
the Board Of Trade, said he courted the
fullest inquiry. He was able to give
complete denial to Germany's conten-
ton that the Lusitania was armed and
was serving rs an auxiliary to the
British naval forces
I'm their note to Germany" the
speaker said. the United States
already have officially denied this, and
the evidence propose to call will con-
firm and fully prove the remarks Of
the American government that the
Lusitania was not armed, and that she
never had been fitted out as a trans
port.
TWO ToRPEDOEs FIRED
WITHOUT WARNING
without warning. {, German subma-
rine fired two torpedoes at the Lusi-
tania, and 1t Is believed n third pro-
jectile also was fred Such an act
was not only contrary to international
law. but II is contrary to the dictates
of civilization and humanity. To sink
passengers In this manner was n de-
.nberate attempt at murder"
Sir Edward remarked that the aues-
tion of speed would be important The
Lusitanin was going eighteen knots,
using only nineteen out of her twenty
hve boilers in consequence of the de-
creased traffic, thus saving quarter
OF her total coal consumption and a
proportionate amount in labor.
Certain specific information was sent
by the British admiralty by wireless
to the Lusitania. but these instructions
are not to be made public, and this
part Of the evidence is to be taken in
private.
1T is quite evident" said the
Attorney General. that one Of the
main questions for the consideration
of the court will be- these instructions
and how far tn captain of the Lusi-
tania acted upon them.
AS rule. the first question to be
decided in an investigation of this kind
is how the accident occurred. In this
case we know that there was no nc
cident. and that there was a premedi-
tated design to murder. The real CUES
tons arising are only two: first, as to
the navigation OF the ship. having re-
gard to the instructions and informa
ton conveyed by the admiralty, and.
second, AS to whether everything was
done that could be done after the shin
was torpedoed."
captain Turner. Of the Lusitania, OK
amined by the Attorney General, said
the ship was not armed. either. for
onense or defense, and carried no
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