Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-11


LONDON. May lo.-Thc Cunard liner
Lus!tania, sunk last week off Old Head
OF Kinsale by submarine. was struck
by only one torpedo. Captain Turner.
of the steamer. testified to-day at the
coroncr's inquest at kinsale. But this
deadly missile found vital spot, and
sent the liner to the bottom in less
than twenty minutes, carrying with
her more than 1000 souls.
The evidence Of Captain Turner.
which cleared up many other points
concerning the disaster. and that Of
members of the crow with a general
knowledge OF the situation. led the
jury TO bring in Il verdict of whole
sale murder" against the German EN-
pcror and his government. and the Of
ncers OF the submarine directly re-
sponsible for the sinking OF the ship.
1t also was disclosed to-day by Cap
tain Turner and by Winston Spencer
Churchill, In n statement in the House
OF Commons. that the captain Had re-
ceived wireless adviccs from the ad-
miralty warning him of submarines on
the liners course. Captain Turner. in
his testimony. said he had followed
this advice Ito the best of my ability"
The character of the advice rendered
by the admiralty was not divulged, and
will not be until Lord Mersey opens
his inquiry into the loss OF the ship.
QUESTIONS AFFORD ROOM
FOR MUCH SPECULATION
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
tat n in, In hnt
torpedo did all tn. damage. said the
second explosion was an internal one.
and that, as the engines were put out
Of commission. it was impossible to
stop the Lusitania and permit the boat s
TO be lowered properly.
This idea of an internal explosion is
supported by naval experts. who point
out that If the torpedo had exploded
contact the steamer would have
only been disabled. or had one or two
OF her compartments flooded. II is evil
dent, they say, that If the torpedo 2ene-
tratcd the hull and tho charge OF 420
pounds Of explosive was detonated, II
would have created an effect similar
to the explosion of n magazine within
n ship. There is little wonder. there
fore. they say. that the Lusitania
sank SO rapidly. or that so many per-
sots were killed by the fumes of the
explosive.
Mr.. Churchill explained that no naval
escort accompanied the Lusitania, be-
cause the policy of the admiralty is
that merchantmen must look after
themselves. This policy was due TO
the fact that the admiralty had not
sufficient destroyers to escort all mcr-
chant ships, as they were required TO
nf
England TO France. and to protect the
English coast from German raids.
WILL NOT DIVERT SHIPS
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Naval observers believe the Germans
are trying to force the English to use
destroyers for the protection of ship
ping. but they say the admiralty, with
its eye first on the naval and military
needs of the country, will not divert
it's ships for other purposes.
Some members Of the House of Com
mons. however. express the belief that
steamer that is particularly threat
ened with destruction should be espe-
cially protected. and the matter of con-
voys doubtless will be further dis
cussed In Parliament.
All this discussion, however, has not
lcssened the anger of the people at the
action Of Germany. which carried death
to so many nonconbatants. In some
towns of considerable German popula-
ton rIoting has occurred, while staid
business men have decided TO exclude
all men Of enemy countries and even
naturalized Britishers of Germanic de-
scent from the exchanges of the coun-
try.
Another result of the sinking of the
Lusitania has been to boom recruiting.
This boom also was helped by German
air raids on South End and vicinity
early to-day. Altogether. the airmen
dropped 120 bombs; only two were
killed. The material damage is esti-
mated at $4,000.
FRIENDS OF VANDERBILT
ALMOST ABANDON HOPE
NEW YORK. May 10.-Although a
number OF additional names of Iusi-