THE LUSITANIA DISASTER

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2648, 17 May 1923, Page 8

THE LUSITANIA DISASTER

Some interesting facts came, out recently in the American Court of Appeal regarding the sinking of the Cun. ardor Lusitania. The Court held. in deciding the case of the estate of Alfred Vanderbilt agansti an insur. ance company, that the sinking of the Lusitania was an act of war, and, therefore the Vanderbilt estate uphold the action of the in. payment on the policy. So far as the available records show, the Court of Appeal decision is the first in which the sinking of the Lusitania is held to hav e been an act of war. On behalf of some of the 320 Americans who lost-their lives wdien this vessel was sunk by a German submarine on 7th May, 1915, suits aggregating (LOOO.OOO dollars were tiled against the Cunard Line, which owned the Lusitania. The Federal District Court in an opinion delivered by Judge Julius M. Mayer, on 2Sth August, 1918, upheld the con. tention of the British owners that the sinking was an act of piracy. It also held the destruction of the passen. gcr ship to have been inexpressibly cowardly,” and a violation of all laws governing civilised warfare at sea. In a final decree Judge Mayer, sitting in th c Admiralty Branch of the District Court, nearly a year later, threw out all claims against the Cunard Line, still holding that, thc sinking was a German crime. His recommendation was that the sufferers or their heirs seek redress from the German Government through their State Department.