Evening star., 1915-11-18
Nearly 100 Lives Lost When
British Hospital Vessel
Strikes Mine.
COLLIER, OFFERING AID,
ALSO MEETS DISASTER
Great Anxiety Prevails in England,
as Channel Was Supposed
Free of Distractions.

DOVER. November 1S-The hospital
ship Anglia, with about 300 wounded
men aboard in addition to the crew,
nurses and attendants. bound from
France for Dover, struck a mine in
midchannel and sank in a very short
time yesterday. Nearly 100 men. most
of them seriously wounded and there
fore in cots, lost their lives.
The collier Lusitania, which was
nearby at the time of the accident, i'm
mediately went to the assistance of
the Anglia. and her boats had just been
lowered when she also struck a mine
and foundered. All her crew were
saved.
A patrol vessel succeeded in rescuing
300 Of the Anglia's passengers and crew,
including some nurses. A. number of
bodies were recovered.
Official Statement.
The following official communication
concerning the disaster was made pub
lie:
The war Office reports that the hos
pital ship Anglia struck a mine in the
channel and sank. The total number
on board was 13 officers and 372 men of
saved by patrol vessel.
Another ship proceeding to the res
cue was also sunk by another NINE"
Another official communication says:
king George was shocked to hear
that the Anglia, which SO recently
conveyed him across the. channel. has
been sunk. His majesty is grieved at
the loss incurred. but trusts that the
survivors have not unduly suffered
from their terrible exposure"
Causes Anxiety in England.
The sinking of the Anglia, although
the first case in the war of a hospital
ship meeting disaster while carrying
wounded. has caused great anxiety in
the public mind. as it had been sup
posed that the English channel was en-
tirely free of danger from mines.
The newspapers indulge in much
speculation. some of them offering the
explanation that they must have been
German mines. The Anglia had 200 cot
cases aboard. When the rescuing ves-
sells reached her she was badly down
by the head and her propellers were
racing. Her stern was so high above
the sea that one of the rescuing ves-
sells was able to pass under her and
forty men dropped aboard.
narratives of this disaster. according
to which, after terrific explosion, the
bows of the Anglia seemed to melt
away until the sea Tapped her rails.
She surged forward, however, in a
vain attempt to reach shore.
y, Many Boats to Rescue.
Soon many boats came to the rescue,
including those sent by the Lusitania.
Those watching the scene saw the SOL
diers coming up from below, assem-
bling on deck and calmly waiting the
order to pass into the boats
A rescuing vessel ran right under the
sinking steamers stern, and imme-
diately the crew set to work under
greatest difficulties to transfer the
wounded.
Every moment the stern of the doomed
vessel rose higher, and the hull veered
sideways as though about to turn tur-
tie, but still the crew worked on.
Wounded Fall Into Sea.
Some of the wounded, unable to keep
their footing on the sloping deck, fell
into the sea and were picked up by the
rescuers. Others jumped overheard.
All the while the nurses worked with
splendid devotion with the crew to
transfer their patients to the boats.
The difficulties were augmented by
the racing propeller. which gave a cir
cular motion to the Anglia.
The end came with dramatic sudden
ness. With wounded soldiers and doc
tors, nurses and sailors still clinging to
the stern, the vessel appeared for a
moment to stand on her bows. then
suddenly went under, but left the Red
Cross flag flying at her mast six feet
above water. marking the fatal spot.