On the Sea.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1915, Page 5

On the Sea.

THE LUSITANIA CRIME. JUDGMENT OF THE COURT. Keeeivcd July IS, 3.30 p.m. London, July 17. Lord Mersey's judgment is that the submarine intended to destroy the Lusitania, and also tlve people on bonrd; that the ship was not warned; that she was unarmed; and that her captain was riot blameworthy. The whole klnni» for '. he cruel catastrophe rested with the perpetrators of the crime. CAPTAIN FULLY ADVfSEiX Received July 18, 3.*5 n.m. London, July 17. Lord Mersey declined to d'sciwn the evidence concerning the Admiralty's precautions, but said that it was plain that the Admiralty had devoted anxious care and thought to the submarine p'Til. They had collected all information likely to affect the LusitanVs voyage, and had fully advised Captain Turnc. The latter, in some respects, had not followed the advice, but it is doubtful 'f (he vessel would otherwise have renelio3 Liverpool.- The Admiralty's ad ice had not deprived him of his right to use his skill and judgment in a difficult situation. The omisoon ta "'olioa- that advice was not attributable to negligence. Everything was done to get out the boats, and the complaints thcreanent, and also the allegations about leaky boats, were illfounded. Lorl Mewy added that no opportunity of cicxpe was afforded the Lusitania. She carried a number of eases «.f cartridges, which were shown on the manifest., and file was not violating any American law.

"DELIBERATE MURDER." j A YOUNG HERO. * Received July 18, 7 p.m. London, July 17. Lord Mersey said that the torpedoing was'done, not merely to sink the ship, but to destroy tho lives of the passengers. (T6rmai»_stfttements that the Lusitania was armSi were baseless inventions, condemning those who used them as a warning against passengers sailing by the 'Lusatania. It was an aggravated crime, proving to have been deliberately planned. Sir E. Carson's statement, that it was an act of deliberate murder, was not one whit too strong. The defenceless on board wer:j doomed to death 'by the submarine's crew acting under the direction of the German Government's officials. His opinion was that nothing in the cargo exploded. Lord .Mersey paid a tribute to the heroism of Leslie ilJrton, an eighteen-year-old sailor, who first sighted the tonpedoes. He was afterwards throwrt into the water, and was instrumental in saving eighty or ninety passengers.

.Mr.' Clem Edwards. on behalf of tho emr of tbft Lusitania. suggested that the costs of the seamen's representation at the inquiry l b.-> liorne liv the nation, in the hope that it- mifrht ultimately be included in t'he enemy's indemnity. Lord Marsev invited Mr. Edwards to discuss the point, with him at a more convenient season.

PIRACY TOLL VOR THK WETOK. Received July IS, 3."0 p.m. London, July 1". Three British merchantmen, nf a tonnage of 10,01(5. were submarined or mined during the week ending July Mth. There were KiSO arrivals and sailings during the week. RUSSIAN" STKAMER SUNK. Received July IS, 11.30 p.m. London. July 18. A submarine. OU miles soiith-c;ist of the Shctlands. torpedoed the Russian carfjd steamer JSalvc, wUJi one thousand tons of coal on board. A lishinj; vessel picked up the crew of seventeen. WORK BY RU'SSIAX SHIPS. Received July IS, fi..M p.m. Petroprad, July 17. Official: Our torpodoers attacked the reconstructed "liatterioß at Zunffuldak. We also de?th>yed. two steamers and several coal-laden sailers. Tfie submarine Morj sank a loaded steamer at the entrance to the Bosphorus. and also several sailers.