New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-26
LOSES
TWO MORE SHIPS,
TOTAL OF EIGHT
One Sailor Dies When
Steamer Is Sunk in
the North Sea.
COASTER MEETS FATE
IN ENGLISH CHANNEL
Crew Landed at Portsmouth
Scandinavian Conference to
Modify Proposals.

London, Feb. 25-Two more British
vessels were added to-day to the list of
victims of the German blockade bring
ing the total for that nat.oA up to
eight. The latest victims were the
steamers Deptford and the Western
Coast.
One sailor lost his life when the
Deptford, a steamer 230 feet long and
of 1908 tons, was sent to the bottom
in twenty minutes either by German
torpedo from a submarine or by COM
ing in contact with mine in the
North Sea at 3 a. m. yesterday at a
point off Scarborough. The fifteen
other members of the steamers crew
were saved and were landed at South
Shields at an early hour this morning.
The engineer of the DeptfOrd says
he was on duty in the stOkehold at the
time the explosive in the torpedo mead
or in the mine rent the Deptford IN
twain. He says he saw fash OF blue
flame shoot up from the bottom OF the
ship and through her deck.
Stunned by Explosion.
The force of the explosion threw hlm
down violently and stunned him. lie
managed to reach the deck. however, as
the vessel was heelng and just as the
lifeboat was being launched. IL was the
carpenter of the Deptford who lost ms
life. After hours in an open and leak,
; ing boat in a snowstoTm, which caused
them to suffer acutely, the men say
! thew signailed a steamer, but no no
/ tice was taken of their appeal. Later,
however. they encountered the steamer
Fulgens, which picked them up and
/ brought them into South Shields. Some
members of the crew say they saw me
| wake of submarine after the Dept
ford was struck.
! The Deptford was owned by W Cory
/ g. Son, Of London, having been built at
/ Blyth in 1912.
The Western Coast, a small coasting
/ steamer, was sunk by mine or tor
pedoed in the English Channel at
point off Beachy Head. The crew was
! landed at Portsmouth to-day.
The Admiralty gave out the following
| list of British vessels sunk by Ger
man submarines"
The steamers Camban, Downshire,
Branksome Chine, Oakby, Rio Parana'
Western Coast and Harpalion. 1t says
the steamer Deptford probably struck
a mine.
German Report Denied.
An Exchange Telegraph dispatch
from Copenhagen says:
"The Norwegian Minister in London
has reported to his government that
the captain and first officer OF the Nor
wegian steamer Regin, recently SUNK IN
the English Channel, believe that their
shin was struck by torpedo, but are
unable to supply any proof OF TINS.
The CAPTAIN had stopped his ship IN
order to escape something black on the
starboard side, presumably mime
when an explosion occurred under the
bow. -,
"The lookout man says he did not
see any signs of submarine.
The steamer Jerveaux Abbey reached
Hull Yesterday and the captain ana
crew totally denied statement IN the
German wireless that they saw hoating
wreckage in the Channel from a Brit
ish troop ship.
rBy Gable to The Tribunel
Copenhagen. Feb. 25.-One OF the
main proposals before the Scandinavian
North Sea Conference was scheme OF
naval conveys for Scandinavian mer-
chantmen. Since then the delegates
who will resume deliberations az Ister
date bay, been informed that the brit
;sh government does not favor these
This plan and other proposals there the Z :
fore have been modified and they VIII De
niaeed before the British and German
governments simultaneously for an eH-
preston Of opinion. -, H..
- any measure which satisfies only
@rs one Of the warring powers. No spirit OF
inS All delegates are agreed on the
medi6ed schemes and are only awaiting
an opinion from the warTing powers be. be,
fore coming 10 a final decision at the
next meeting.