Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-05-08
BELIEVE MORE THAN ONE
TORPEDO HIT IuSITANIA

Washington. MAY NAVAL Officers
here think the Lustania probably was
struck by more than one torpedo If.
as reported. she remained afloat only
thirty minutes after the first explo-
sion The ship was SO constructed,
they say, that, unless under eXtraordi-
nary conditions, a single torpedo could
not sink her
II was pointed out however. that
inside explosions following the attack
might have aided IN the work of de-
siruction, as the ship Is understood TO
have carried a vast quantity OF war
material for the allies including
much ammunition. such explosions
might have ripped open several COM
partments and so weakened others
that they gradually gave way under
the pressure of inrushing water
If all Of the passengers and crew
OF the ship were removed in her boats
after she was torpedoed. the officers
and crew of the Lusitana accom-
plished an almost impossible task.
SOME officers said. The ship carried
The fun complement of boats both OF
the regular and collapsihle type, and
Of life RATS required under American
navigation laws place for every
person aboard the ship in life boats
was assured. II Is said, and undoubt-
edly all boats We're swung out and
provlsioned as soon as tho steamer
cleared Now York harbOr and re-1
NAMED so all the way across II was
suggested, however, that the task of
getting Into the boats nearly 1000
persons. many Of whom We're women,
hardly seemed possible OF accomplish
ment in thirty minutes.
or the construction or the lost ship.
officials recall that at the time Of
the Titanic disaster engineers declared 1
a similar accident 60 the Lusitania /
would have left the ship afloat and /
able TO proceed under her own steam. |
She was double skinned vessel. with I
many water-tlght subdivisions OF her
held and the wing bulk head installa-
tions that gave added protection. The
vessels coal bunkers lay outside these
hulkheads and II was pointed out that
the most powerful torpedo known
could not tear open enough compart-
ments 70 send the ship 20 the bottom.
Navy Officers predicted that an ef-
feet OF the loss OF the I.usitania would 4
be q popular demand in England for
energetic action by the fleet
Some officials OF The state depart
ment were inclined "a credit reports
that German base for submarine
raids had been established In some
hidden cove. known only to the ma
live smugglers on the Irish coast. The
Of the British superdread-
naught Audaelous off the Irish coast
generally supposed to have been the /
work Of German submarine, numer- I
)us raids on smaller craft in the same
region and now the sinking of the
huge Lusltania, in the opinion Of these
indicated clearly that the I
ierman underwater craft were work
ng from some nearby point.
Navy officials, however, dld not /,
hare this view They pointed ont /
hat the Lnsitania was struck at a
distance, approximately Of less thar ,
.,5OO miles from the German coast. !
rhis would be easy cruising distance, i
I was said. for the newest American
nbmarines. Information has reached !
he navy department to the effect 4
hat German submarines have COM /
'letely circumnayigated The British 4
sles, making voyages or 5000 or 900 !
niles. II this Is true, ana the report 4
apparently was accepted at face value, I
ne underwater ambuscade 10 which i
ne Lusitania fell victim, was com !
'aratiyely simple matter.
germany is known TO nave put in 4
Ommission q number of new subma- r
Inc cratt recently, and Ii was thought n
" navy officials that when the plan !
0 sink the Lusitania was drawn IN +
was decided to send a dozen or q
more Of these boats into the track i
yhich the liner probably would fol-
oW to lie in walt for her Judging i
Y reports OF her position at the time \
: llle attack II was said the Lnsitanin
oloWed her regular course on her .
lst voyage. 3
Some navy officers thought thew II
aw In the warnings published in the :
ountry before the departure Of the =
leamer that she would be attacked
n lntlmation that the ship would =
e blown up from inside during her :,
oyage. Nothing In dispatches re- =,
eived today tended 20 confirm this =
lew Of the incident.
President Wilson had lust finished
incheon and was about 10 leave The =
Fhite House for Il drive when he =
eard OK the sinking OF the I.usitania .
! the cabinet meeting less than an u
our before, the torpedoing or the :
nlfiight with the death OF three =
mericans had been discussed and a. N
arty OF cabinet members had gath =
'ed Tor luncheon at a nearby hotel y
here the news was taken TO them. {
II the secretaries Immediately hur- IS
ed back to their offices.
The presidents first question was z
neither any lives had been lost and Is
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(G0ntinued on pauo Imol