The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-04-29
LOSS OF FRENCH
CRUISER LEON
GAMBETTA TOLD
Some of the Survivors Had Been in the
Water 20 Hours When Rescued
Ship Was Sunk By Austrian
Submarine U-6.

April 20.-The French cruiser Leon Gam.
BETA has been torpedoed by the Aus
trian submarine U6 in the Strait oi
Otranto.
The first report Of the destruction OF
this cruiser came from the men on duty
at the semaphore station at Santa Maria
Leuca. These men at once gave the
alarm, and vessels We're sent out to the
aid of the Leon Gambetta.
1t has not been ascertained whether
the attack on the French cruiser oc-
Cured within the territorial waters Of
Italy.
The submarine which attacked the
| Leon Gambetta came from Cattaro, an
| Austrian port about 300 miles distant
from Santa Maria Leuca point. This
| distance could have been Travelled by
| the submarine in about 20 hours. 1t
was learned here yesterday that the u-6
was sighted by fishing boats Monday
afternoon.
Three French cruisers we're Tuesday
night watching the strait between the
| Island of Corfu and the Italian coast
| This strait, when the various islands
are taken into consideration, does not
measure more than 40 or 80 miles wide.
1t appears that the U-6 took up
position about half way between Santa
Maria Leuca and the Greek island OF
Othoni. Here the craft waited for its
prey, and when the opportunity offered,
discharged its torpedo against the Leon
Gambetta. which was one of the French
cruisers doing patrol duty.
Shjps which went out to succor the
Leon Gambetta are still cruising in the
vicinity where she was struck, looking
for possible survivors.
1t is believed the Leon Gambetta had
on board crew numbering ia men,
including % officers. A majority OF the
men were asleep at the time the cruiser
was struck Those who have been saved
are virtually without clothing.
They were taken from the water IN
pitiful condition. Some were wounded
and others were almost unconscious,
while all suffered from exposure.
The Austrian submarine U6 is the
same craft that few days ago boarded
the Italian steamer Jolanda.
Since the beginning of the Anglo
French operations against the Darda-
nelles. French warshps in the Adriatic |
have limited their activities to watch
ing the Strait of Otranto with the idea |
of preventing any Austrian submarine
escaping from the Adriatic, at the head |
of which is Pols, the Austrian naval
base. and reaching port of Turkey. This
patrol duty was particularly necessary /
to protect the vessels of the allies oper
atng against the Dardanelles and in
view Of the fact that it is well known /
that Austria possesses several subma-
rines whose cruising range is sufficient /
to permit them to travel from Pola to
the Dardanelles without replenishing
their fuel supply. From information
gathered from various survivors il is
possible to construct the story of tho
disaster as follows:
The Leon Gambetta parted company
with the French cruiser Jules Ferry
Tuesday night to cross the Strait of
Otranto with view to cooperating
with other French ships in an attempt
10 block the Austrian fleet If il should
seek TO leave the Adriatic. This was
not an unusual maneuver, as the Leon
Gambetta for months had been going up
and down the coast from Cape Santa
Maria Leuca 10 Brindisi, Bari or across
TO Corfu and Vallona.
The sea was perfectly calm and the
moon shone brightly. Although the
Leon Gambetta showed no lights and
adopted the other customary precau-
lions, there was no suspicion of danger.
At midnight the warship was about 20
miles from Cape Santa Maria Leuca. The
lookout could see distinctly the lights
IN the Italian coast. At sea nothing
appeared on the horizon.
Suddenly there was a fearful explo.
,ion which shook the cruiser fore aud
1T. Officers and men remained calm
md. the survivors say, their first thought
vas not for their own safety. but rather
IN detect and attack their assailant.
They scanned the sea for a periscope, 1
Dut in vain.
As the cruiser was listing rapidly.
ne commander gave orders that signals
or help b. sent and that the boats ~ Z
owered. II proved 70 be most difficult !
% lower the boats. owing 10 the posi- I
ion Of the ship IN the water. somr /,
i the men leared overheard in the hope !
" saving themselves. Others were
washed Of the decks. The cornuander.
Though urged 10 abandon his ship. re-
used 20 Do 40.
None 81 the survivors uas able to sav
lCW long n Was before assfstAure ar .
ived u is probable that several boHrs q
lapsed before thess men vere resrued. Z
Two Italian torpedo ls1at DESTROYER Z
fhieh went % the aid 81 the Gsamtefta J
ave arrived hers bringing es additional 9
urtifnrs ~ tho Cruiser phs wsrf found =
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is arms sn nliuosf drine eanrsfe. WTlrr I !.
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% insisted 'hat thf mnH 10 bsa rnsensa
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