SINKING OF THE LUSITANIA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 29 October 1928, Page 6

SINKING OF THE LUSITANIA

GERMAN U BOAT COMMANDER’S STORY United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph— Copy right Australian Proas Association.—United Service. NEW YORK, 2611 1 October. Ihe liner Lusitania was slink during the war “by chance.” rather than by specific Gcniiaii orders, according to an account by Commander Walthcr Schwinger, captain of submarine 1120, in Lowell Thomas’s book “Sea Raiders,” published to-day. Commander Schweiger’s story is given as follows:—“I sighted on the horizon a forest of masts and. stacks, and at first, thought there were several ships. I perceived one coming on and dived ipnnediately for a shot at the ship, which changed its course when two miles distant, making a perfect target. I ys*« fast and waited a short time. I had only two inferior bronzes remaining, but at 400 yards I gave the order to fire. The torpedo hit the ship and we approached closer. The pilot, peering through the periscope, yelled, ‘My God, it’s the Lusitania. ’ I iook my place at the periscope and saw the ship sinking almost, unbelievably rapidly. There was a terrible panic on deck, the most terrible sight 1 have ever seen, but it was impossible to give any help.” On returning to Germany, writes Lowell Thomas, Commander Schweiger was appalled at the anger of an outraged humanity. He was reprimanded by llie ex-Kaiser as well as by bis brother officers, but the consensus of opinion, according (o Lowell Thomas, was that Commander Schwniger merely carried out his orders to sink any ship in blockaded waters.