The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-11
Commander of Ill Fated Liner Clears Up Various Points Connected With the Disaster
SECOND EXPLOSION
 WAS INTERNAL ONE HE SAYS ON STAND
Lone Deadly Missile Found a Vital Spot and Sent Big Ship to Bottom-Had Received Warning

London, May 10.-G0:45 D. m.)
 The Cunard liner Lusitania. sunk last week off Old Head of Kinsale by submarine. was struck by only one torpedo, Captain Turner of the steamer testified today at the cor oner's inquest at kinsale. But this deadly missile found vital spot and sent the liner to the bottom in less than 20 minutes carrying with her mere than 1000 souls.
 The evidence of Captain TurIer
 which cleared up many other points
 concerning the disaster, and that of members of the crew with general
 know ledge of the situation, led the jury to bring in verdict of wholesale inurder'' against the German Emperor and his government and the officers of the submarine directly responsible for
 the sinking of the ship.
 1t also was disclosed today by Cap-
 tain Turner and by Winston Spencer Churchill, in statement in the House pi AotuiiioiiSf tildl inc captain naU re- | ceived wireless advices from the aj- l miralty warning him of submarines Tn 1 inc liners course. Captain Turner in ir's testifnons saT d he had followed Inc advice ''to the pest of my ability" The character of the advice rendered l lN the admiralty was not divulged bnd will not be until Lord Mersey opens his inquiry into the loss of the ship Will Not Change Policy Meanwhile the cause of the heavy loss of life, the absence of any naval escort for the threatened vessel and the suddenness with which she sank afforded room for much speculation Captain Turner in declaring that ore ] rorerdo did all the damage. said the l second explosion was an internal one
 and that as the engines were put oui of commission it was impossible ia !, stop the Lusitania and permit the boats | } be lowered properly.
 ! This idea of an internal explosion
 is supported by naval experts who point out that if the torpedo had eX- ploded on contact the steamer world have only been disabled or had one or two of her compartments flooded 1t is evident, they say, that if the tor l pedo penetrated the hull and the l charge of 420 pounds of explosive was l detonated if would have created an Sf- feet similar to the explosion of ma E. azine within ship There is little wonder, therefore, they say, that sEe Lusitania sank so rapidly or that so many persons were killed by the | fumes of the explosive
 Mir. Churchill explained that no na- 1 val escort accompanied the Lusitania
 lccause the policy of the admiralty IS 1 that merchantmen must look after | themselves This policy was due tn l the fact that the admiralty had roi sufficient destroyers to escort all m@r- 1 chant ships as they were required tc suard the continuous stream of trane- ports from England to France. and to l pSotect the English coast from Ger man raids.
 Internal Explosion
 Naval observers believe the Germa ms are trying to force the English to use l C estroyers for the protection of ship l ring but they say the admiralty, w'th | it's eve first on the naval and mill l try needs of the country. will not di- l vert it's ships for other purposes.
 l tSome members of the House or Com i mons express the belief that steam CT that is particularly threatened With | destruction should he especially p O. tt ctcd and the matter of convoys 1 il ,uhtless will further be discussed In l lI'arlament.
 l All this, however, has not 1essened the ,nger of the people at the action of Germany which carried death to so l many noncombatants. Tn some towns If considerable German population l riotjng has occurred. while more sta'd
 (Continued on Page Nine)