The Oskaloosa herald., 1916-03-02
PARIS CONFIRMS
SINKING OF SHIP
GERMAN SUBMARINE ToRPEDoED
PROVENCE LAST SATURDAY.
$40 OF The 1900 WERE SAVED
Austrian Marine Torpedoes Swedish
Steamer-Crew Picked Up and
Landed at Leghorn-A British
Steamer Sunk.

Paris, March IA German subma.
rine torpedoed and sank the French
auxiliary cruiser, Provence, in the
Mediterranean Saturday, with a loss
of lives now estimated between nine
and eleven hundred, the minister of
marine announced today.
A statement made known the fact
that the Provence was a submarine
victim and at the same time estab-
lished the identity of the attacking
submarine.
Also the official statement issued
eporting $40 of the 1900 on board
saved, the latest dispatches quoted
SO safe 1t is believed possible that
other SURVIVORS were landed by
Greek fishermen.
Todays report carried the state.
ment that the Provence was a great
transatlantic liner of that name but
also taken over by the company early
n the war. a..
Cause of Disaster Unknown.
Dispatches from Paris, transmitted
through Paris direct, and also other
dispatches, transmitted through Lon
don, did not state whether the Pro-
vence was sunk by a submarine, by
a mine or was the victim of an acct
dent.
Submarines are known to have been
operating in the Mediterranean
for some time, the British steamer
Fastnet and a Swedish steamer hav-
ing been torpedoed in those waters
within the last few days.
The Provence sunk is believed to
be the palatial French liner of that
name, formerly in transatlantic serv-
ice. The liner Provence is now In
the admiralty service, 1t was stated at
the French Line Office here. 1t was
said, however, the government would
not notify them in case the ship was
lost.
Noted for Its Speed.
La Provence was one of the largest
and finest of the French line vessels.
Her gross tonnage was 1858. She
was built at St. Nazaire in 1906, was
602 feet long, 65 feet beam and 80 feet
deep. She was requisitioned by the
French government for naval service
at the outbreak of the war.
At the time she was launched La
Provence was the fastest transatlantic
liner ever built in France. She COW
cred her maiden voyage to New York
over the course between Havre and
Sandy Hook in 6 days 9 hours 10 min.
utes, the fastest passage by several
hours which had been made between
the two points.
La Provence entered the transatlan-
tic service when the speed rivalry
among the British. French and German
lines was at its height, and engaged
in a number Of exciting races, in one
of which she defeated the Cunarder
Mauretania.
In all probability the Provence was
carrying troops either from or to Salo-
Mkt. The islands of Malta and Melos,
where survivors were landed, are 900
miles apart. Melos lies off the south
east coast of Greece. 1t is probable
that the Provence was sunk some
where between the Greek west coast
and the island of Malta.
Swedish Steamer Sunk.
Stockholm, March 1.-The Swedish
steamer, Torborge, 1000 tons, has
been sunk in the Mediterranean by
an Austrian submarine.
Her owners were notified today that
the crew took to boats and were pick
ed up and landed at Leghorn, Italy.
The Thorniby Sunk.
London, March 1.-The British
steamer, Thorniby, 1900 tons, has
been sunk, according TO Lloyd dis,
patches, reporting all members of the
crew killed or drowned.