THE LUSITANIA TRAGEDY

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14264, 15 January 1920, Page 7

THE LUSITANIA TRAGEDY

EVIDENCE OF THE CAPTAIN. ADMIRALTY WARNINGS. INSTRUCTIONS NOT OBSERVED. Some of the evidence given by Captain W. T. Turner, of the Lusitania, before the Wreck Commissioner (Lord Mersey), at the secret inquiry held on June 15 and 18, 1915, at the Central Hall, Westminster, is published in a Parliamentary Paper just issued. The Lusitania was sunk by a German submarine, with the loss of 1134 lives, on May 7, 1915, and at the inquiry Captain Turner was examined at length as to the course he took and the instructions he received with regard to the avoidance of submarines. Captain Turner said he received an Admiralty instruction on March 22, saying: "Most important that vessels passing up the Irish or English Channel should keep mid-Channel course." On May 6 he got a wireless Admiralty telegram saying that submarines were active off the south coast of Ireland. He also received that day a message saying: "Take Liverpool pilot at bar, and avoid headlands. Pass harbours at full speed; steer mid-Channel course. Submarines at Fastnet." On the 7th, the day of the disaster, he received the message, "Submarines active in southern parts of Irish Channel. Last heard of twenty miles south of Coningbeg Light Vessel." Later came another wireless message, "Submarine five miles south of Cape Clear, proceeding west when sighted at 10 a.m.'' Asked why, with this information before him, he went so close to Old Kinsale Head, witness said he did so to get a fix. They were not sure what land it was; they were so far off. He had an approximate idea where he was, but wanted to be sure, so that he could get a proper course and navigate the ship safely. He considered that he followed the Admiralty's instructions as well as he could. When the ship "was torpedoed he was in what he would call practically mid-Channel. He now thought he was about ten miles off land. He did not think it was necssary to go further out. He thought ten miles a sufficiently wide berth to give the Old Head of Kinsale, though he thought at the time he was fifteen miles off. The Commissioner: Off Old Kinsale Head, what is the width of the Channel there?—l4o. The Attorney-General: You really do not think, do you, that you were in mid-Channel or anywhere near it? —I did not think it was mid-Channel exactly, but I thoughts was far enough oh the land. You did not think it necessary to be in mid-Channel? —No. • Why did you disobey the Admiralty j instructions? —My aim was to find the land. You never for a moment tried to carry out what the Admiralty had laid down? —1 thought I was trying my best, anyhow. In reply to other questions, witness said that a thick fog might have come on, and, not knowing the exact position of the ship, he might have gone ashore. Therefore he wanted to know his proper position. He had received a general warning that zigzagging was a safeguard against successful submarine attack, but he did not zigzag because he understood that "it was only when you saw a submarine that you should zigzag." (The warning said that "this course (zigzagging) is almost invariably adopted by warships when cruising in an area known to be infected by submarines.") The Commissioner: But'the whole point is that it is the submarine that is looking at you?—Yes. The Commissioner: And if you are zigzagging you confuse him and put him into difficulties. The Attorney-General: When yon arc torpedoed it is too late? —Of course it is. Do you not see now that you really disobeyed a very important instruction?, Witness made no answer, but later lie said that, having heard the instruction read over again, he was sure that his previous interpretation of it was wrong. He did not put on greater speed lest he might have to wait for a pilot at the Mersey bar, where the ship would be a better target for lurking submarines. When stopped because of fog on the morning of the disaster, he sounded his foghorn every minute automatically. It did not occur to him that this might be very dangerous, having regard to the submarines. The motorist who spills a wayfarer and then "scoots" does, in many cases, get away. Not always. One of the exceptions (says the Dunedin Star of Monday last) occurred on .Saturday morning. A motor car collided with a cvclist in George street, between Hanover and Frederick streets, about 8 o'clock. The cyclist was knocked flat, and the motorist flew off at a great pace. Another motorist, seeing what had happened, left the prostrate one to the bystanders and gave chase. It was a long run, for the ears were about a match, but near Duke street the runaway was headed and made to heave and lisi number was taken and then the pursuer kept him under observation util the injured man arrived to deal with the matter personally. 'Trifles by nemg i>espisea Grow Great." Especially now. a cold seems trifling ;<t first. If ignored, it gets a hold of the whole system and serious compilations are liable to follow. This is more likely to happen in summer when colds conic unexpectedly. That's ul llie more reason why you must have Baxter's Lun? Preserver handy. \ dose at the '.eginning and all is well. A course vnen a summer cold has hnid r,f you and the trouble is quickly dispelled. Thousands praise "Baxter's." You will too—after one bottle. Order it to-dav—it's m-and. 2/6 buys large sine frnm Chemist or Store