The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1915-07-20
UNARMED PASSENGER
VESSEL ATTACKED
Fired on by German Submarine
But Missed by Ten Feet.
AMERICANS ON BOARD.
counsel for U. 8. Federal Industrial
Relations Commission Aboard
and Will Make Protest,

hoih, July If.-Ine Cunard
Liner Orduna, from Liverpool to
New York with 227 passengers, in
Guiding % Americans, was attacked
without warning by a German sub
marine on the morning of july Q. Il
was learned on her arrival here to-
day.
twenty miles from the graveyard
of the Lusitania off Old Head of
kfnsale, the Orduna escaped the Lus-
itania's fate by one-half a second of
time or 10 feet or space, the German
torpedo churning the water that dis
tance behind the liners rudder.
Then the Oruna sped away. She was
followed by the submarine which
rose to the surface manned a gun
and shelled the fleeing steamer.
The attack was timed at 10 min
utes to o'clock in the morning when
all but few of her passengers were
asleep. Aroused by stewards, the u
passengers dressed hurriedly and
went to the upper deck, where they
donned life belts and took their places
at the life boats. They heard the
scream of the shells and saw the
ocean spit up columns of water where
the missiles struck. When the fire
grew hot they were ordered. for
their own protection, to the next deck
below
For half an hour tn Orduna show
ed her heels to the assailant. Through
marine glasses the passengers watch
ed the low lying German warship
coming on, but the Orduna's flight
was faster than the pursuit and after
seven shots had been fired without
effect the submarine gave up the
chase.
CALL FOR HELP.
A wireless call for help was sent
out by the Orduna when the torpedo
was seen. She was then 81 miles
south Of Queenstown. The reply.
Captain Taylor says in his official re-
port was that help would be given
within an hour. 1t was four hours
before the first British vessel, a small
armored yacht, the Jennette. an
peared.
Protest will be made to the United
States government by at least one
American citizen, and possibly 9TH
ers, who were aboard. William C.. |
Thompson of Chicago, counsel to the
federal Industrial Relation Commits
sion, who went abroad in his official
capacity last March and was return |
ing to make his report, is the pas
senger who said today that he would |
make vigorous protest to his govern /
ment.
WILL MAKE PROTEST.
VAS an American citizen, employ
ed in an official capacity by the gov |
eminent to go abroad, / feel that / 7
should bring the governments atten-
ton to the attack" said Mr.. Thomp
son.
Il feel that i had a right to return
home on the Orduna, although sho
flies the British flag, because she is
a passenger ship. The fact that she
had no munitions of war aboard for
titled this opinion. 1t is little short
or marvellous that she was not sen;
to the bottom with all aboard"
AMERICAN BARK AS SHIELD?
Whether the submarine hid behind
an American ship--the bark Nor
mandy from Gulfport. Miss.-was
point upon which passengers held
varying opinions. A small sailing
snip with two American flags painted
on her side. was sighted ahead short
~ before the attack. Captain Taylor.
suspicious of the craft, changed his
course. Soon thereafter the torpedo
was sighted.
There was no certainty as to the
identity of this ship that displayed
two painted American flags but one
of the passengers thought that he
made out her name to be Nor
mamie" through his glasses. There
is no such vessel listed. The Amer
lean bark Normandy was known to
be in the vicinity at the time. When
she reached liverpool July IL some ,
of her crew said that submarine
had used her as shield from which
TO maneuver against and torpedo the s