The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-15
ENGLAND LOSES ONE. OF THE LARGEST OF
 HER DREADNAUGHTS
AudaciOus Sent to Bottom Near Coast of Ireland by Mine or Torpedo.
 Or w Rescued

New York, November A-Rumors oi disaster to the British super-dreadnaught Audacious, which have persisted ever since the White Star liner Olympic, di- verted from her course, arrived at Lough Swilly on October 2a. are confirmed in mail advices received today by the As sociated Press from a point in Ireland.
 After a career of less than two years the Audicious of the King George class, third in tonnage and armament of his majesty's warships, lies at the bottom of the ocean off the north coast of Ireland She was hit by torpedo or disabled by a mine just before o'clock on the morn in gof October 27. With the possible ex- caption of one or two men the whole crew of 800 officers and men was rescued by small boats from the Olympic.
 The rescue was made in a rough see through brilliant and daring seamanship on the part of the White Star crew.
 The battleships cry for assistance was caught up by the wireless operator of the Olympic, which was only about 10 miles distant. The steamer rushed forward at full speed while her crew made ready for their work. Volunteers were called for and double the number necessary to man the lifeboats responded The crippled hattleship was reached a few minutes after o'clock and before noon all but 100 of her men had been transferred. By ba fba haft lod a1 Hat at the stern, where just below the water line she had received her wound. Two of her engines were unharmed, but the one aft was put out of commission.
 After taking off all the officers and crew who would leave, the cruiser Liverpool and several other warships which had come up stood by. Late in the afternoon
 1t was decided to abandon the Audacious and the fficers and men who had re- mained pard reluctantly left her
 The tilla of rescue ships con- tinued .o stand by, however, until 2 o'clock that evening when . terrific explosion occurred on board and the Audacious plunged stern first and in 8 moment had disappeared.
 The explosion is supposed to have been caused by shells set loose by the listing of the batt1eship. A bit of ar ruor plate, torn from the sinking ship. struck the deck of the Liverpool kill ing a gunner. The Audacious met her fate 25 miles off the Irish coast, which tn. Olympic was skirting. The latter sailed from New York for Glasgow ,l October 21. The Olympic's passenge B saw the flash of the explosion a'.d watched the mighty warrior sink Tn l their ship turned her brow tows TO Lough Swilly. An immediate investir1- ton of the loss of the battlesnip vaa ordered
 Charles M. Schwab was the only Ta5- senger who left the Olympic bef9rc 1t docked at Belfast on November 2 The Olympic carried about 300 nsa- sengers Nearly 100 of these were I,H, fish reservists. All passengers ciaf than British were denied passage rom Belfast to Liverpool and were -or pelled to go to Dublin. which tn open port, to take boats for Ent land Secrecy regarding the loss of the Au ddcious was enjoined upon the cfs~ and passengers of the Olympic who were urged to refrain from discrssii the naval tragedy which they hso &it- messed pending complete invssi za ton.
 The destruction of the Audatious I. the most serious single loss suet+ineo by the British navy since the ooeHtn g of. hostilities. only a few Britfsn var ships outrank her in size ann eculp- ment.