Norwich bulletin., 1918-08-26
Cunard Line Cleared
 of Lusitania Suits

New York. Aug. 25.-The Cunard. 1Itedmshlp Company cannot be held laole for loss of life and property ir e1e torpedoing of the Lusitania by german submarine. according to a de. Clslon handed down in the admiralty oqanch or the United States district court by Judge Julius M. Mayer and made public today.
 me cause of the sinking of the !4usltanla was the illegal act of the imperial German government. acting lilrough Its instrument, the submarine | commander declared Judge Mayer Who held that the fault, therefore luusl De laid upon those who are re- sPonsloIe for the sinking of the yes Se+ Sensn tii :, tue legal as well as moral
 In dishissing suits against tha r,- nara Line aggregating nearly slo96- uUU, brought by heirs of persons who Perished with the Lusitania on May
 a' lSlo, Judge Mayer asserted that tii Is not to be doubted that the TTnite5
 states ot America and her allies will
 vel remember the rights of those af-
 lected by the sinking of the Lusi.
 tania, and when the time shall come
 VII see to It that reparation shall be
 acts of modern times"
 Judge Mayer went exhaustivetv ;,.
 10 claims that the Cunard line was
 negligent, and dismissed them with the
 conclusion that the captain and thS
 members of the crew took every r,re-
 caution justified by the then known
 facts. both before and after the yes
 sel was torpedoed.
 IL IS. or course. easy now" he de- clared, in the light of many late1 GooIL IGnGn'S, aooed to preceding acts, to Iooh pack and say that the Cunard Line and it's captains should have known that the German Government
 would authorize or permit so shocking
 preach Of international law and so Ioul an oftense. not only against an enemy but as well against peacefuI
 cItlzens of a then friendly nation. Rut , the unexpected character of the act was best evidenced by the horror
 which 1t excited in the minds and hearts of the American people,
 Judge Mayer declared that proof , pEought out in his investigation, l winch covered year, is conclusive that the Lusitania was not and never
 mad been armed. and that on the vov- age on which she was sunk, did moi n carry explosives.
 Discussing the warning advertise.
 ments published by the German en1. = bassy in New York newspapers ar s May |. the day the Lusitania sailet = Judge Mayer. said:
 - It Is perfectly plain that the mas.
 ter was fully justified in sailing or n the appointed day from a neutral DOT d With many neutral and non -combatan a passengers, unless he and his com = pany were willing to yield to an at
 tempt Of the German government f, : terrIty British shipping. l. Few at that time would be Iikel is to construe the warning advertisement r. as calling attention to more than th
 perlls to be expected from quick dis of emoarkation and the possible rigors q ie the sea after the proper safeguardin e of the lives of passengers by at leas Id tull opportunity to take to the boats, > Judge Mayer held that the er1er
 Sency equipment of the Lusitani l. measured fully up to maritime re in quirements, and declared that whiI > there was considerable confusion a
 the liner after she was torpedoed, th IS officers and the greater part of tn of crew acted with that matter of fac IS courage and fidelity to duty which ar l. traditional with men of the sea"