The Washington times., 1914-11-15
SHIP BRINGS NEWS
OF AUDAC|OUS' END
Liner lust in From Liverpool Re-
ports Olympic Rescued 800
of 0readnought's Crew.

NEW YORK, Nov. 15.-Not until the
arrival Of the White Star liner Baltic
here was it definitely learned that on
October 81 the British super-dread-
nought Audacious was sunk in the North
sea oft the Irish coast.
This first line battleship Of King
Georges navy hit a mine or was struck
by a torpedo fired by a German craft
as she was on patrol duty with other
British warships. -. --
This is the heaviest blow that las yet
fallen upon the British navy, but the
sinking of the Audacious is not yet gen.
orally known in England. News of the
disaster has been suppressed by the ad-
EIiralty and it was only with the ar
rival Of the Baltic, outside the jurisdic-
ton of the British censor. that the re-
port could be made known to neutral
countries.
Practically All Rescued.
Practically all Of the 500 officers and
men comprising the crew Of the Audaci-
GUS were rescured by the White Star
liner Olympic. The arrival Of the Bal
tic here has, therefore, not only cleared
up the rumors which have been circu-
lated as to the sinking OF a British
dreaenought. but lifted the veil of mys-
terry which surrounded the movements Of
the Olympic on her last trip abroad when
she put in at Lough Swilly before pro-
ceeding to her port Of call.
Not only the crew, but the passengers
Of the Olympic were sworn to secrecy
before they were permitted to leave the
vessel. Among the passengers was
Hh1 Snhu shA l,,i
enc permitted to leave the ship before
she reached Belfast, but his lips were
sealed
The story as brought here by the Bal
tic writes another chapter Of daring in
the work OF rescue on the sra. The
olympic was about ten miles from the
Auoaoious when she received a wireless
call fo- help.
Olympic Deded Mines.
The Olympic plunged forward in re-
-eponse to the call. though it was known |
the sea was heavily mined. By the |
time the liner reached the stricken war
ship, boats were ready and members of
the crew had volunteered TO man them.
The Audacious was then listing badly.
She had been struck below the water
line and one engine was damaged.
Under the direction of Captain Had
dock, the men OF the Olympic gave
their first attention to the crew of the
Audacious. When all had been taken
OF an attempt was made to take the
oreadnought in tow. The high seas had
not stopped the. men of the Olympic in
the daring work of rescue, but no cable
would hold when they stroVe to drag
the wounded ship into shallow water.
II soon became evident that the All
oadous was doomed. Several other
y atNa-
and the captain and officers of the
Greadnought who remained on board
were advised to leave the vessel.
After they left their ship the squad
watch, awaiting the inevitable. Pc
tween S and 8 o'clock at night the Az
dacious trembled from stem to stern
from the force of the explosion. "'hen
she plunged to the bottom.
One man on board the cruiser Liver
pool was killed by the explosion on
board the dreadnought, fragment Of
steel being blown across the deck of
the cruiser. The sailor was manned,
and died within short time.
Completed Two Years Ago.
The Audacious was of the same class
as the Centurion, the Ajax. and King
George V. She was completed only two
years ago, September, 1912. She was
built at a cost of So, 900. Under trial
she made a speed of 22.4 knots. The
vessel was 596 feet long and had a dis
placement Of $1,000 tons.
The Audacious carried ten l3.5-inch
guns, throwing l,40O-pound shells: six
teen 4-inch guns, and four 3-pounders
She had three submerged 21-inch tor
pedo tubes. two being broadside and
one stern. Her armor consisted of a
12-inch belt amidships, 4-inch on the
ends, nine and seven on the upper
belt. and Pinch in the coming tower.
1t is understood that the admiralty
mas investigated the sinking Of the
A1dacious. but II is not yet known
whether IL will be possible to raise the
vessel and restore her to service att
s0lae future time.