Page:The Lusitania's Last Voyage (lusitaniaslastvo00lauriala).djvu/179

 to assist in the launching operations" added to the "difficulties" the officers and crew found in trying to lower the boats.

I would suggest adding to the "difficulties" mentioned above the following: lack of discipline among the crew and the lack of expert knowledge as to the handling of the boats, knowledge that can come only to the well-trained crew.

He says of this wonderful crew that "many more than half of them lost their lives." I suppose that is because the other half "worked with skill and judgment."

It would seem that Lord Mersey measures "skill and judgment" by the number that were lost; and if so, why doesn't he pass the same relative judgment on the passengers who lost their lives? He mentions figures, but here are the totals: There were 1,257 passengers and 472 were saved. To have been consistent, he should have written