New York Times Current History: The European War, Vol 2, No. 3, June, 1915 | Page 7

received a message concerning
the sinking of a ship off Kinsale by a submarine. Captain Turner
replied that he had not.
"Did you receive any special instructions as to the voyage?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Are you at liberty to tell us what they were?"
"No, Sir."
"Did you carry them out?"
"Yes, to the best of my ability."
"Tell us in your own words what happened after passing Fastnet."
"The weather was clear," Captain Turner answered. "We were going at
a speed of eighteen knots. I was on the port side and heard Second
Officer Hefford call out:
"'Here's a torpedo.'
"I ran to the other side and saw clearly the wake of a torpedo. Smoke
and steam came up between the last two funnels. There was a slight
shock. Immediately after the first explosion there was another report,
but that may possibly have been internal.
"I at once gave the order to lower the boats down to the rails, and I
directed that women and children should get into them. I also had all
the bulkheads closed.
"Between the time of passing Fastnet, about 11 o'clock, and of the
torpedoing I saw no sign whatever of any submarines. There was some
haze along the Irish coast, and when we were near Fastnet I slowed
down to fifteen knots. I was in wireless communication with shore all
the way across."
Captain Turner was asked whether he had received any messages in
regard to the presence of submarines off the Irish coast. He replied in
the affirmative. Questioned regarding the nature of the message, he

replied:
"I respectfully refer you to the Admiralty for an answer."
"I also gave orders to stop the ship," Captain Turner continued, "but we
could not stop. We found that the engines were out of commission. It
was not safe to lower boats until the speed was off the vessel. As a
matter of fact, there was a perceptible headway on her up to the time
she went down.
"When she was struck she listed to starboard. I stood on the bridge
when she sank, and the Lusitania went down under me. She floated
about eighteen minutes after the torpedo struck her. My watch stopped
at 2:36. I was picked up from among the wreckage and afterward was
brought aboard a trawler.
"No warship was convoying us. I saw no warship, and none was
reported to me as having been seen. At the time I was picked up I
noticed bodies floating on the surface, but saw no living persons."
"Eighteen knots was not the normal speed of the Lusitania, was it?"
"At ordinary times," answered Captain Turner, "she could make 25
knots, but in war times her speed was reduced to 21 knots. My reason
for going 18 knots was that I wanted to arrive at Liverpool bar without
stopping, and within two or three hours of high water."
"Was there a lookout kept for submarines having regard to previous
warnings?"
"Yes, we had double lookouts."
"Were you going a zigzag course at the moment the torpedoing took
place?"
"No. It was bright weather, and land was clearly visible."
"Was it possible for a submarine to approach without being seen?"
"Oh, yes; quite possible."
"Something has been said regarding the impossibility of launching the
boats on the port side?"
"Yes," said Captain Turner, "owing to the listing of the ship."
"How many boats were launched safely?"
"I cannot say."
"Were any launched safely?"
"Yes, and one or two on the port side."
"Were your orders promptly carried out?"
"Yes."

"Was there any panic on board?"
"No, there was no panic at all. It was all most calm."
"How many persons were on board?"
"There were 1,500 passengers and about 600 crew."
By the foreman of the jury--In the face of the warnings at New York
that the Lusitania would be torpedoed, did you make any application to
the Admiralty for an escort?
"No, I left that to them. It is their business, not mine. I simply had to
carry out my orders to go, and I would do it again."
Captain Turner uttered the last words of this reply with great emphasis.
By the Coroner--I am very glad to hear you say so, Captain.
By a juryman--Did you get a wireless to steer your vessel in a northern
direction?
"No," replied Captain Turner.
"Was the course of the vessel altered after the torpedoes struck her?"
"I headed straight for land, but it was useless. Previous to this the
watertight bulkheads were closed. I suppose the explosion forced them
open. I don't know the exact extent to which the Lusitania was
damaged."
"There must have been serious damage done to the watertight
bulkheads?"
"There certainly was, without doubt."
"Were the passengers supplied with lifebelts?"
"Yes."
"Were any special orders