Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 July 1915 — GERMAN CONTENTION UPHELD [ARTICLE]

GERMAN CONTENTION UPHELD

Witness at Lusitania Hearing Testifies That Second Explosion Sounded Like Exploding Ammunition. London, July 2.—Testimony that bears out the contention of the German government that only one torpedo was fired at the Lusitania and that the second explosion resulted from the blowing up of ammunition in the liner’s hold was given when Lord Mersey reopened the board of trade investigation into the destruction of the ship by a German submarine. Prof. Joseph Merichal of Queen’s university, Ontario, the chief witness, who was a passenger on the ship, declared that the second explosion sounded like the rattling of Maxim guns. Lord Mersey asked if Proses sor Merichal got the impression that Maxim guns were being discharged in the ship’s hold. "No, 1 would suggest that it was the explosion of ammunition," replied the witness.