New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-23
White Star Llher'
47.5OO Tons, Lost
with so Lives
100 SAVED AFTER
U-BOAT ATTACK
Britain Enraged at Firing
on Red Cross Boat; No
Wounded Aboard
Bv ARTHUR s. DRAPER


Io,don. Nov. o. Germany
,.hi,yed one Of her greatest naval
,ucc,sses in the war yesterday when
o,s Of her submarines torpedoed the
white Star liner Britannia, Of 47,5OO
IONS. the third largest ship ever built
On board the vessel which was
sunk at S o'clock in the morning on
tho island of Keos, in the Agean
Ses. were 1.15O persons. Fifty lives
were lost and more than a score cf
persons we're injured, according to
the meagre reports at hand.
Serving as Hospital Ship
The Britannia was serving as
bospital ship. plying between Eng
land and Salonica. AS the vessel
WAS approaching Salonica when
she was torpedoed, there were no
wounded soldiers on board.
Although the Admiralty is careful
70 state that the ship was sunk
either by a mine or torpedo offi-
cials Of the White Star Line declare
emuhatically that only a torpedo
could have pierced the steel hull OF
the Britannia.
Intense feeling has been aroused
mere at the contravention of all laws
Of war and humanity shown IN the
torpedoing of the big hospital SHIP
The British people are particularly
hard hit by the disaster because the
Rritannic was built TO replace It's
Inflated sister ship, the Titanic. as
a direct challenge to the supremacy
Of the great German liners, the Vat
orland and the lmperator.
Never Saw New York
l. ;z sad coincidence that the two
greatest liners Britain built for trans
atlantic traffic both failed to see New
York The Titanic went down on her
maiden voyage TO America, and the bri,
tanpie was requisitioned as hospitai
r. h.fo,e she had undertaken her
arst transatlantic trip.
Two red crosses. painted on either
side Of her hull, and large red cross
susnsnded between her tunnels, illu-
minated at night by red and white
electric lights. proclaimed the Britain
nie's identity 10 all passing vessels.
New Phase of Frightfulness
Many high officials here show not
the least surprise at this phase of Ger
man frichtfulness. They had expected
that the Germans would make some
such attempt in the hope Of accelerat-
ing the peace movement. But any such
German expectation displays a woful
ignorance Of the British attitude in tins
war
That the loss Of life was as small as
reported was due in part TO coolheaded
:.amsnship and in part 20 the com
plete equipment Of life-saving appar-
,tus on the Britannia. The ship carried
sghty-hve lifeboats and specially con-
strueted davits permitted three boats
70 be lowered simultaneously.
The captain Of the Britannia, c. A.
Bartlett, is known as resourceful and
experienced seaman and shipping men
here credit him with having brought
most Of the passengers through safely.
Sank In IS Minutes
THE Britannia was torpodoed at 8
o'clock in the morning and sank near
shore nfty-hve minutes later. She was
going TO Salonics, but had no wounded
on board.
"Her complement included l2l nurses
and $50 officers and men Of the army
medical corps. Twenty-fiv. of the in
'ured from the steamer are now in the
Russian hospital, while others are
abOard Allied wsrships.
The islanders of Iea saw the vessel
sinking and the victims struggling on
the waves, and promptly responded 10
The appeals for help, and an Anglo
French squadron from Pireus. COM
posed Of destroyers and auxiliaries, i'm
medistely went 10 the scene.
The injuries Of some Of those on
toard are very severe. especially the
occupants Of two boats which were
caught BY the propellors of the steam
er. The women of Zea tore up their
clothing 20 bandsge the injured. The
bntannic had 5000 beds, which had
been prepared for the reception Of sick
and wounded an hour prior 70 the tor
pedoing."
Liner Cost ss,0oo.000
The Britannia was launched at Bel
fast in February. 19f4.t She remained
ineempleted until the outbreak Of the
VAR. In the fall of 1914 she was hn-
ithed, at a total cost of Ss,000,00o.
The high cost was partly due 70 the
fact that after the Titanic disaster the
original design was altered and the
Britannia was fitted with s double hull.
the inner shell being three feet from
'es outer and extending over five
sixths Of the vessels bottom.
As soon - the Britannia was com
rls'sd she was put into the Admiralty
service ~ . hospital ship. She made
coastsue6 on page Z. eeinaan Q