The Sentinel=record. (Hot Springs, Ark.) 1900-current, 1914-09-27
STORY OF THE
SUBMARINE FEAT
ENGLISH OFFICERS TELL HOW
THREE CRUISERS WERE SUNK
BY SUBMARINE.
Admiralty Issues Orders That Other
Ships Must Not Attempt Rescue of
Torpedoed Ships.

klr, Hogue and Cressy by a Ger
man submarine or submarines,
IN the North Sea with a loss of
nearly sixty officers and 400
men are contained in an admir-
atty statement issued tonight.
The reports Of Commanders
Nicholson, Of the Cressey. and
Norton of the Hogue, state that
the Aboukir was hit by a torpe-
do and sunk in thirty-five min
utes. Tire torpedoes were fired
at the Cressy, one of the eXplos-
ives missing. She lasted from
thirty-five to forty-five minutes.
The Hogue was struck twice, ten
to twenty seconds elapsing be-
tween the torpedoes. She went
under in five minutes.
The Cressy fired on the sub
marine and some Of the officers
We're confident the shote sank
her, Commander Nicholson
says the three torpedoes directed
against his ship might have
been fired by the same subma-
rine and that there is no real
proof that more than one was
engaged.
The reports show that the strictest
discipline was maintained and that
acts OF heroism were performed, but
the admiralty has established the rule
that such affairs must be governed by
the same laws that prevail in naval
actions and that disabled ships must
be left to their own resources rather
than that other ships be jeopardized
by rescue work.
The statement follows:
The facts of this affair cannot be
better conveyed to the public than the
attached reports of the senior officers
who have survived and have landed in
ENGLAND
The sinking of the Aboukr was, of
course, an ordinary hazard of patrol
ing duty The Hogue and the Cressy
however, were sunk because they pro
ceeded to the assistance of their con
cort and remained with engines
stopped, endeavoring to save life,
thus presenting an easy and certain
target to further submarine attacks.
The natural promptiags of human,
ity in this case have led to heavy loss
es which would have been avoided by
strict adherence to military consider
atoms Modern naval war is present
ing us with so many new and strange
situations that an error of Judgment
of this character is pardonable. But
it has been necessary to point out for
the further guidance of his majesty's
ships that conditions which prevail
when a vessel Of a squadron is injured
in a mine field or is exposed to sub
marne attack are ADVANTAGEOUS to those
which occur in action and that the
rule OF leaving disabled ships to their
own resources is applicable so far aS
any rate, as large vessels are con
cerned.
mo act of humanity, whether to
friend or foe, should lead to neglect
of the proper precautions and dispo-
sitions OF war, and no measures can
be taken to save life which preiudices
the military situation. Small craft
of all kinds should, however, be di-
rected by wireless to close on the
damaged ship at all speed.
Must Shift for Themselves.
"Tha loss of nearly sixty officers
aad 400 men would not have been
grudged if it had been brought about
by gun fire in open action, but it is
peculiarly distressing under condi-
lions that prevailed The absences of
any of the ardor and excitement of
an engagement did not, however, pre-
vent the display of discipline, cheer
ful courage and ready self sacrifice
amonk all ranks exposed to the or
deal.
THE duty on which these vessels
were engaged was an essential part Of
the arrangements by which the safety
of the country are maintained and
the lives lost are as useful as neces-
sary and gloriously devoted to the re-
quirements of his majesty's service
as If the loss had been incurred in
general action.
'1n view of the certainty of pro
portion of misfortunes of this char
acter occurring from time to time, it
Is important that this point of view
should be thoroughly appreciated. The
loss of these three cruisers, apart
from the loss of life is of small naval
significance.
The report of the sinking of the
Cressy, signed " 'Bertram w. l..
Nicholson, commander of the late II.
NJ. s. Cressy' follows:
"The Aboukir was struck at about
6:26 on the starboard beam. The
Hogue and Cressy closed and took up
position, the Hogue ahead of the
Ahoukir and the Cressy about 400
yards on her port beam. AS soon as