New-York tribune., 1915-03-07
BRITISH CRUISER
RUSHES TO AID
Agents Here Talk of Ger
man Spies and Sub
marines.
AMERICAN NURSES
AMONG PASSENGERS
Four Liners, as Well as Cruiser,
Speed to Aid of the
Stricken Ship.

London, March "A wireless mes
sage from the French liner La Tou-
raine, received at Queenstown at
o'clock this morning, says that the
steamer Rotterdam is standing by pre-
pared 10 render every assistance, in
cluding the transfer OF passengers, II
necessary. Wireless messages have
been sent out to the steamers Arabic,
Cornishman, Swanmore and Stanford
saying that their assistance is not now
required.
When the Rotterdam reached La
Touraine the crew of the latter vessel
were fighting the fire with every means
at their disposal.
This news, coming after q silence Of
ten hours, was the first reassuring
word concerning the fate Of the French
liner, ablaze four hundred miles west
of the Irish coast, with a cargo Of arms
and ammunition aboard.
The first news of her peril came 70
the TeUCH NllHASbiy VI fioAihe' ~
ceived from one OF its wireless stations
to-day the news that the steamship La
Toursine was aiire about four hundred
, knots off the Irish coast.
A director of the Compagnis Cen
ersle Trsnsatlsntique said this after-
noon:
"From 4 wireless dispatch we have
received we are given to understand
that fire broke out on La Tourains at
6 o'clock this morning. Four ships
which were within wireless range have
gone to her assistance. Among them
are the Arabic and the Rotterdam.
"The Arabic and the Rotterdam he
said, should now be close to La Tou-
raine. which is 900 miles from Hsvre."
Fierce Fire Raging.
A later message from Queenstown
said that fierce fire was raging on La
Touraine. This message is repetition
of one received by Lloyd's from the
wireless station at Valencia, Ireland
The London Office of the Compsgnie
Generate Transatlsntique, which owns
La Touraine, is without special infor-
nation concerning the vessel.
An early message telling of the fire
was received by Lloyds from the wire
less station at Valencia, Ireland. In
addition to giving the position Of La
Touraine, it stated that the steamers
Rotterdam, Swanmore, Cornishman,
Arabic and others were going to her as
sistance.
British Cruiser TO the Rescue.
Before the news of the Rotterdam's
standing by was received, the 5 o 5
call was picked up by a British cruis-
er on patrol duty in the Atlantic, and
she had proceeded at top speed TO the
assistance of La Touraine. Her aid is
not considered necessary, as the cap
tain Of the Rotterdam has given an
undertaking to stand by La Tourains
until she is safely navigated to port.
Cable messages from the French Min
istry of Marine were received at the
Offices of the French Line here asking
for details of the Toursine's plight. Al
the Paris Office of the Compsgnie Gen
erale Transatlantique the director gem
ersl said he had heard from a wireless
station on the French coast that the
fire was serious and that the vessel
was in great danger. lie thought that
the Arabic, westbound from Liverpool,
and the Rotterdam, from New York,
were perhaps the closest OF all vessels
to the Touraine. II was explained that
the Toursine left New York at 3 p. m.
on February q, three hours after the
Rotterdam had sailed. The Dutch
steamship is a triAe faster, however.
and il is believed that she was prob
ably some 200 miles ahead of the Tou-
raine when she received the lstter's
call for assistance.
The Arabic had probably passed the
Touraine and had put about and
steamed eastward to her aid. The 81.
Paul, for Livernool; the Finland, for
N..ples; the kristianisfjord, for Ber-
gen; the s;tamoalis, for Naples, and the
Cymric, for Liverpool. left from two TO
three hours ahead Of the Toursine. II
is believed here that the Cymric, which
is % about the game speed as the
French vessel. 10 one of the vessels
that has responded to her S 0S.
lBy cable 90 The Tribune.
London, March 6.-Representatiye o.