AT SEA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 18 June 1915, Page 5

AT SEA.

LUSITANIA ENQUIRY

FURTHER EVIDENCE

HER SINKER'S COMMANDER

DECORATED

FURTHER CAPTURES AND

SINKINGS

LONDON, June 17. At the Lusitania inquiry, Mr MacMaster, representing the Canadian Government, drew attention to a device capable of detecting the presence of submarines, but gave no details.

Mr Booth, chairman of the Cunard Company, said the Lusitania's top speed was 24 knots. The non-use of certain boilers saved a thousand tons of coal in a voyage, and it was necessary if the Lusitania was to continue running without a financial loss. He did not think there was an increased risk. No vessel previously torpedoed was going above fourteen knots. The company did its best to counter the efforts of German spies. The Lusitania was specially ordered not to stop to

pick up a pilot. Other evidence showed that the Lusitania had changed her course four times in a few hours before the disaster. Sir Edward Carson said that the manifest contained certain cases of ammunition and some empty shells, but neither could be used for military purposes. The captain of the Lusitania gare evidence that the average speed on the journey was 21 knots. He could not make 25 knots because he was working nineteen out of the twenty-five boilers by orders of the company, and could n6t get more than 20 knots out of the vessel.

.7 ''.i ,- BmmkmM;j\in^iT:^ The* mail steamer Thdrsten, from Gothenburg to England, ww captured and conveyed to Swinemunde.. > The Pritiah, steamer Amdale, coalladen, bound for Archangel, wag mined southward of Gape Arlov. Three were' drowned. Many ,mines were seen at the entrance to,the Whitfe Sea. COPENHAGEN, June 17! ; It is officially announced that Commander Hersing has been decorated, in recognition of his "gallant" act in torpedoing the Lusitania. , ' -. AMSTERDAM, June 17. I A Dutch fishing smack was mined off Knocke. The crew of four were killed.