South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-07-01
Captain Gives
Up A fter Futile Attempt to
Escape From Submarine
Survivors Declare German
Seaman Stood by and Jeered
as LeyIand Liner Was Sent
to Bottom by TorpedoeS.
By John c. Foster.

BY john c. Foster.
LONDON, July 1.-German seamen
stood by and jeered while the Leyland
liner Armenian, which was attacked
by German submarine off the Corn
ish coast, went to the bottom, accord
ing To survivors who We're landed at
AvonmOuth today by the trawler
Princess. The death list may reach
30, OF whom about a score are Ameri-
cans. Twenty nine persons were re
"orted missing, but 10 others were
wounded, six of them seriously.
The latest submarine attack. result
ing in the loss of American lives. has
aroused much excitement throughout
England and the next move of the
United states in the negotiations with
Germany over the under seas warfare
is being awaited with deep eagerness.
How Liner Sank.
A description of the sinking of the
Armenian was given by survivors at
AyOnmouth, and combination Of the
various reports follows:
When the submarine was first
sighted on Monday Capt. J. Trickey
hoped to Outdistance the underwater
boat and crowded on all possible
steam. In the meantime the seamen
and others on board the ship crowd
ed to the rail and watched the chase.
The submarine, which was later iden-
tilted as the U-3S, is one of the biggest
and fastest under water craft in the
world. She sped along the surface of
the water frantically signalling to the
Armenian to stand by. Instead of
obeying Capt Trickey began maneuV-
erng TO get away. Fearing a torpedo
he began to send the snip on a zig
gag course, but this necessitated a re-
ductiOn of speed.
In the meantime the submarine
was Overhauling the steamer and soon
the Germans opened fire with a cam
non. They got the exact range with
out difficulty and shells were soon
dropping around the ship.
"One struck the pilot house and
killed several men.
Another projectile crashed through
a small boat and shattered the ships
rail.
Capt Trickey still hoped to save
his ship and continued to maneuver
as the Smelling went on, hoping to
show the German boat a clean pair
of heels. This was vain hope, how
ever, fer the German shells kept COM
ing faster and faster and ii was soon
seen that flight was futile.
Orders Men on Boat.
''AccOrAngly Capt Trickey sounded
the whistle twice and the steam was
shut off. As the ship reduced her
speed the submarine came up and
stood by. As she did so the COM
mander hoisted the German flag.
standing upon the submarine and
speaking in excellent English, the cap
tain of the German boat shouted
through a megaphone:
"'Get your men off at once for we
are going to sink your ship.
The work of lowering boats was
begun at once, the wounded being ten
derlv lowered. Four of the men on
the Armenian who had been struck
bv fragments of shells Dled to death
while this work was. going forward:
I'm the meantime IA members OF
the submarine crew crowded upon her
deck. When they saw the destruction
that had been worked by their shells
they laughed and shouted something
in German.
LAS the boats pulled away the sub
rine rolling upon the ocean swell,
drew off and sent the Armenian 10
the bottom. The survivors OF the
Armenian drifted until picked up by
tbe Princess. Thanks to good wealth
er none of the boats were lost
Submarine of Newest Type.
Can't. Trickey. in describing the de-
struction Of his ship said;
'.The submarine was one OF the
newest tvpe and she must have been
at least 500 feet long. have never
seen such a powerful underwater boat
as that one. The Germans gave us |
hard hearted treatment As we were
getting into the boats they jeered nor
ribly."
nc Dominion liner. but she belonged |
to the Leyland line and lew the BRIT,
isb Aag Many of those on board /
we're negroes who shipped from New
port News as muleteers.
The Armenian sailed from the VIZ
gipian port on June i with a cargo |
of mules for the British government |
They were TO be used in france IN the |
army transport service. 1t Is report
cd without verification that one WhlJe /
man. DR.. J. :. Wise OF Porto RICO, ana /
three American negroes were plcheu 4
up by the submarine.
TraWIer Saves Some.
When the small boats put of from
tho Armenian they got separated and !
80 Of the survivors were picked up !
~ the Belgian trawler Prof. stevens /
1,,d landed at Bristol. The Americans /
among the survivors at Bristol were |
interviewed oy John s. Armstrong, |
ir the American consul at Bristol, |
who reported TO Ambassador W n. |
page. who in turn effectively reported !
tho destruction Of the Armenian TO .
the United states government.
The Armenian was a ship OF $50 |
TONS Her cargo of 1,422 mules. all /
Of which drowned when the snip sanh'
was valued at S2S4,40O.
As horses and mules are contra
b,'d OF war. it IS believed that the |
German government VIII attempt 10
Justify the sinking Of the ship on that