The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-29
Vessel Was One of Fastest in
French Navy.
TOrpedOed in Mediterranean
Sea OFF Isle of Malta.
ITALY SEXES "a SHIPS
COnfiScates Interned German
Merchant Vessels.
This Method of Answering
Kaiser's New U-BOat Law.

Paris, Feb. 29.-MOre than 900 lives
are believed to have been lost in the
sinking of the French auxiliary cruis-
err La Provence, formerly in service
as a transatlantic liner, i'll mid-Medt-
terranean on Saturday.
One thousand and eight hundred
persons were aboard the cruiser, an
official statement from the ministry
of marine stated. OF this number 296
of the crew have been landed at NAL
IA and about 400 on the Greek island
of MeIos.
A later official statement from the
admiralty placed the number of saved
ar $40. making the total number miss
ing about $50.
Ten other vessels are now at the
scene of the disaster, continuing the
search for survivors, the ministry of
marines announced.
La Provence was one of the largest
and finest of the French line vessels.
She was built in 1906, was 602 feet
long. 65 feet beam and 3S feet deep.
She was requisitioned by the French
government for naval service. AT the
time she was launched La Provence
was the fastest transatlantic liner eyer
built in France. She covered her
maiden voyage to New York in six
davs nine hours and ten minutes, the
fastest voyage by several hours which
has been made between New York and
HaVre
Italy Grabs Ships.
London, Feb. 29.-It was announced
I'm the house of commons today that
the Italian government had requisi-
toned thirty -four of the 81 German
steamers interned in Italian ports.
Washington, Feb. 29.-Announce-
ment of Italy's seizure of German
ships in italian waters attracted
much attention in official and diplo-
matte circles and in some quarters the
belief was expressed that the seizure
eventually might lead to war between
Italy and Germany.
One of the leading explanations ad-
vanced for Italy's action was that she
proposed to answer the new Ger
manic submarine campaign which
goes into effect at midnight by send
ing German owned ships to sea to
meet the Teutonic SubmersiDleS. An
other explanation advanced was that
Great Britain, short of ocean ships
from submarine activities, wanted to
use the ships in Italian ports and was
urging Italy to war on Germany.
Recent reports from London said
that grave interest was being displayed
in England over the possibility of
declaration war on Germany by
Italy when the Italian parliament
opens March l. The Italian govern
ment, according to dispatches received
ir London from Rome on Sunday had
not yet decided whether it would yield
to the popular demand for a war with
Germany.
Armed Liner Departs.
Washington, Feb. 29.-The Italian
liners. Giuseppe Verdi and San Gug-
lielmo at New York. with mounted
guns aboard. were ordered cleared to-
day on assurances Of the Italian gov
ernment that their armament was for
defensive purposes only.
Steamer Hits Mine and Sinks.
Copenhagen. Feb. 29.-The Alton
bladt reports that a large German
flotilla is engaged in laying mines
south of Falsterbo but outside of
Swedish territory and that ii is under
the protection of 20 German patrol
ships.
Falsterbo is a small seaport of
Sweden near its southern extremity on
the Baltic sea dispatch from Lon
don today stated that the Swedish
steamship Knippa had struck a mine
south of Falsterbo and sunk