New-York tribune., 1922-12-04
.Lusitania Bore
No Explosives,
Report Shows
Ex-Collector Malone Makes
Public Ceriificaiion of
Cargo, Refuiing Charge
That Blast Sank Vessel
Had No Guns or Troops
5400AmmunitionCa CasesO Only
Arms on Board; Ruling
Authorized This, He Says

An official report denying the pres
enee Of explosives, troops or guns on
the Lusitania on its last voyage, which
Dudley Field Malone, then Collector
Of the Port, made to William G. Nc
Adoo, Secretary Of the Treasury,
June 4, 1916. Is published by ~The
World" this morning. This report,
'Tho worlP says, was President VIII
sons authority in his note Of June .,
1915, for denying inferentIally Ger
many's contention that the sinking Of
the big liner May was due 10 the ex-
Iosion of ammunition II carried.
Mr.. Malone says he decided TO make
the report public because he still was
receiving inquiries as 10 whether the
Lusitania carried eTpiosives, guns or
soldiers as Germans have declared In
defense Of their act. Such allegations
have been denied previously BY Mr..
Malone, but the actual report had not
been given out
Carried No Explosives
10 shows that the LusitaniA wa.
carrying no explosives as defined by
the United States. no guns, masked or
unmasked, mounted or unmounted, and
no body OF troops, In UNIFORM or out
Of uniform. II had 1900 cases Of .303
caliber cartridges, the ultimate con-
signee Of which was the British gov
ernment; 1880 cases Of shrApnel, with
out fuses and without explosive; is
eases OF fuses, without explosive; IL
sample 5-inch shells. unprimed and un-
loaded, and a single high explosive
she'll, cut into sections and containing
no explosive. The report, In part,
follows:
when the Lusitanla sailed from the
Port Of New York on May /, 1915, on
her last trip 10 England, she did not
have any guns Of any ealiber or de-
seription on any deck or decks, on her
stern or bow, mounted or unmounted,
masked or unmasked. This statement
is made Of my own official knowledge
and Is based upon the statements and
aiiidavits Of James G.. Ross and Israel
Finkelstein, United States inspectors
OF customs AZ the Port OF New York,
who had charge Of diseharging the
cargo Of the Lusitanla during hsr last
stay In this port; John +. Hoey, United
States inspector Of customs; William
]. Smith, United States inspector Of
customs and n member Of the neutral
ity squad; Frederick A. Dowsey, a su-
peryising officer Of the members Of the
neutrality squad, and Captain David J..
Roberts. marine and pier superintend-
ent Of the Cunard Steamship Company.
These afidavits are affixed under tho
heading marked Group A.
"All Of these men examined the
Lusitania and testify she was without
guns. arms or armament. In addition
|, myself, boarded the Lusitania on
the morning Of May /, 1915, within
one hour of the time OF her actual de-
parture and, after an inspection OF
her open bow deck and open stern
deck. can testify Of my own personal
knowledge that there were no guns OF
any character, mounted or unmounted'
masked or unmasked, nor any blocks
or blocking. or marked ypaces on
which guns might be mounted, on the
said bow or-stern decks, or the open
deck, around when
walked on the ship.
"The Lusitsnia did not have Cana
dian troops or troops OF any NATIONAL
ity on board. Moreover, the Lusitanin
carried no group or groups, no oody, OF
fcanfinued On aaes thftf)