ECHO OF THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 December 1922, Page 5

ECHO OF THE WAR.

LOSS OF THE LUSITANIA

DETAILS OF HER CARGO.

THE VESSEL NOT ARMED.

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.

• Received Dec. 4, 9.5 p.m.

New York, Dec. 4.

The New York World publishes a copy of a report made by Mr. Dunley Field Malone, Collector of the port of New York under ex-President Wilson, made to the State Department, eoi.cerning the character of the cargo of the Lusitania when she left this port on the trip which ended in her being torpedoed. Mr. Malone explains that thousands of inquiires had been made for informsVionTrom various organisations throughout the world, but the State Department could not publish the report, because it was part of its archives and therefore secret. However, he considers the present time expedient for its publication.

The report reveals that the Lusitania carried neither masked nor unmasked guns and neither Canadian troops nor troops of any nationality. She carried no explosives, but she did carry 5460 cases of small arms ammunition, fuses, shrapnel cartridges and shell castings. It was foreign ammunition and was carried under a ruling of the United Sta>s Department of Commerce in force since 1911. The Department of Commerce ruling stated that the results of testo justify beyond, doubt the conclusion that ' small arms ammunition may be transported without restriction on steamers carrying passengers.

Air. Malone’s report further states that in the Lusitania's construction at certain points bases were laid for the mounting of guns of 6-ineh calibre upon an order of the Admiralty, so that should the Lusitania be called on for service in the British Navy she would be more readily adaptable for naval purposes. The bases at all times were, however, covered with deck planking, showing the falseness of the assertions that guns were mounted when she sailed. The report further indicates that the vessel was most carefully examined for the purpose of seeing whether violations of neutrality had been made, and the vessel passed a complete test by competent inspectors as being within the American neutrality law.—-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Association.