The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-07-29
SECRET FILES
ON LUSITANIA
ARE DISCLOSED
Gilbert MCAIIiSter First
Newspaper Man Ever to
Scan Records.
CREW TAKING IT EASY
Captain Refuses to Get
Excited or Be Hurried
in Daring Search.
BY GILBERT MALLISTER
Times Special Writer

Copyright 1885 United Feature Syndicate
Inc. Reproduction IN whole or IN part
prohibited. All rights reserved
ABOARD SALVAGE SHIP OR
PHIR, July 29-Hitherto unknown
facts hidden in the secret archives
OF the British Admiralty for the
last 20 Years. were unveiled to your
correspondent today when Capt
Henry Dell Russell of me salvage
ship Orphir permitted the first ex-
animation of the Lusitania files ever
accorded a newspaper man. For two
decades their mysteries have been
locked from public view.
The documents from which The
new information was gleaned-in-
formation that is expected to hasten
the location Of the Lusitania's hulk
on the ocean bottom and the solv-
ing OF the secrets bound within
her hold include the log book of
Capt. SChweiger. commander of the
V-20 which tOrpedoed and sank the
huge Cunarder. sending 1lO4 men
and women and "a children to their
deaths.
PliOtS Letter Included
They include. also an enormous
~ important letter from Herr Will
liza" Dang. pilot Of the U-bost. who
has placed his knowledge OF 5he sea
tragedy at the disposal of this ex-
petition. Capt. Russell likewise has
IN his possession the confidential
statements of Capt William Thomas
Turner. commander of the Lusi-
tanis.
From these documents have
been able to gather an account of
the Lusltania sinking that l believe
Is more complete than any obtained
BY official quarters either in the
United States or Great Britain. 1t
Is story of horror. Of high cour-
age, Of careless confidence akin to
lncOmpetenCy. 1t is story of re-
lentless horror.
This expedition ought to deter
mine whether the sinking was, as
Sir Edward Carson declared, "a pre-
meditated design to murder people /
on board" or whether the Lusita-
MA did indeed carry such munitions
NA' NbAAA justify AlildllA.
can't 60 into a transcript of the
testimony here. What this expedi-
ton is concerned with Immediately
is locating the wreck. With all
available sources of information, it
would appear that the exact spot
where the Lusitania went down
must be known. 1t is not.
Curious Fact Is Learned
have learned from Chief Officer
Bestic of the Orphir one curious
TACT. You recall he was third Off
Ger on the LhSitania when it sank.
just before the torpedo smashed
into the engines, BeStic was on the
Lusitania bridge endeavoring to take
four-point bearing. That opera .
ton was never completed. ConSe-
quently the location of the wreck
must Temain gueSswork. But the
best guess is likely to be predicated
upon the report of Capt. Turner of
the LuSitania.
Turner fixed the position of his
ship at the time of torpedoing at
$50 west. 81 .25 north. That would
mean that the LuSitania sank 30
miles from Brow Head. - miles
from Baltimore Bay. IS miles from
Galley Head and % miles from
Cape Clear.
Turner also said that the LuSi-
tanls probably Travelled two TO three
miles on her own momentum from
the time she was struck until ulti-
matelv she went down. keeping
Roadway while she was going down.
The LuSitanIa'S course was then
about south 81 east magnetic.
Buoys Are Put Up
It IS along this course that Capt.
Russell of the Orphir is operating.
He has put up buoys with white
flags to indicate possible locations
Of the wreck. It is possible. in these
dangerous seas with their history of
lost ships, We Will bring back a long
record of submerged disaster, but
the divers are not going to inves-
tlgste until We find the LuSitania.
When We do. am most anxious to
GO down myself IN a divers suit and
to report findings at first hand.
Capt. Russell refuses to be hurried
or excited. Yesterday time hung
heavily on our hands. 1t was Sun
day and as quiet as typical Sunday
in London. There were blue skies,
pleasant seas and general apathy
Late in the afternoon low clouds
began to appear on the horizon in
diosting possible squalls Sailing
over a sea sunht with silver we
noSed gently into a cove near the