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Show jCIMRO CO. IS EXONERATED i Judge Mayer Hands Down Decision De-cision Regarding Responsibility Responsi-bility for Sinking the Lusitania. NEW YORK, Aug. 25. The Cunard Steamboat company cannot bo held liable for loss of life and property in the torpedoing of the Lusitania by a German submarine, according to a decision de-cision handed down in the admiralty branch in the United States district ! court by Judge Julius M. Mayer and made public today. "The cause of tho sinking of the Lusitania was the illegal act of the imperial im-perial German government, acting through its Instrument, the submarine commander," declared Judge Mayer, who held "the fault, therefore, must be laid upon those who arc responsible for the sinking of the vessel In tho legal as wcll as moral sense." Iii dismissing dis-missing suits against the Cunard line aggregating nearly $4,000,000 brought by heirs of persons who perished with the Lusitania on May 7, 1915, Judge Mayor asserted that" it is "not to be doubted that the United States of America Am-erica and her allies will well remember remem-ber the rights of those affected by Iho sinking of the Lusitania, and when the time shall come will see to it that reparation re-paration shall be made for one of the ' most indefensible acts of modern times." Judge Mayer dismissed tho claim that tho Cunard line was negligent with the conclusion that the captain and members of the crew took every precaution justified by the then known facts both before and after the vessel was torpedoed. J "It is, of course, now easy." he eald, I "In the light of many later cvenb added to many preceding acts to lock back and say that the Cunard line and ! its captain should have known that th-1 , j German government would authors I or permit so shocking a breach of In-I In-I ternational law and so foul an offense, I not only against nn enemy but, as well, against peaceful citizens of a then I friendly nation. But the unexpected 1 character of the action was best evidenced evi-denced by tho horror which It eiclted in tho minds and hearts of the American Amer-ican people." Judge Mayer declared that proof brought out in this Investigation, which covered a year, Is conclusive that the Lusitania was not, and neve: had been, armed and that on the voyage voy-age on which she was sunk did tot carry explosives. Discussing the warning adverse-ments adverse-ments published by the German embassy em-bassy in New York newspapers on ay 1, the day the Lusitania sailed, Judge Mayer said: Were Justified In Sailing. ( "It Is perfectly plain that the outer ou-ter was fully justified on sailing oa the appointed day from a neutral pr' with many neutral and non-combit-ant passengers, unless he and his company com-pany were willing to yield to an attempt at-tempt of tho German government to terrify British shipping. "Few at that time would be likely to construe the warning advertising as calling attention to more than the perils per-ils to bo expected from quick disem- 4 barkation and the possible rigors of the sea after the proper safeguardtns of the lives of passengers by at Ic"1 full opportunity to take to tho boat-. Judge Mayer held that the emergency emer-gency equipment of the LusIUJU measured fully up to maritime requirements re-quirements and declared that a6 there was considerable confusion oa the liner after she was torpedoed, It-officers It-officers and the greater part of crew "acted with that mattcr-oMl courage and fidelity to duty which ara traditional with men of tho sea." |