CAPTAIN TURNER’S TESTIMONY
Captain W. T. Turner, the Lusitania’s commander, was the chief witness at the inquest.
The Coroner asked the captain whether he had 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.”
“You were aware threats had been made that the ship would be torpedoed?”
“We were,” the captain replied.
“Was she armed?”
“No, sir.”
“What precautions did you take?”
“We had all the boats swung when we came within the danger zone, between the passing of Fastnet and the time of the accident.”
“Tell us in your own words what happened after passing Fastnet.”