The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-12-06
Brand New Ship, on Maiden
Voyage for Delivery.
U-BOAT FIRED TWELVE SHOTS
Crew Rows Forty Miles and
Reaches French Coast.
Ship BOmbarded While Men
Scramble Into Boats.

New York, Dec. 6.-The steamship.
John Lambert, listed in the maritime
register as an American vessel, was
shelled and sunk without warning by
German submarine off the Isle of
Wight on November 22, according to
members of the crew, Americans, who
arrived here today on the French line
steamship Espagne from Bordeaux
The John Lambert was one of
twelve vessels built on the Great
Lakes for sale to the French line.
According to the arrivals today, the
vessel was on it's way to Havre for de-
livery to the French interests.
The attack took. place at 4:30 p. m.
twenty-five miles south of the Isle of
Wight, members of the crew said. The
engineer, Edward Harrison, of this
city, said the U-boat first made its
thru the John Lambert's bridge and
that the firing continued during the
time the crew was taking to the boats,
twelve shots in all being fired.
In Open Boats Twelve Hours.
The crew numbering sixteen, all of
whom arrived here today without their
captain said they rowed forty miles to
the French coast being in the water
twelve hours, and that shortly after
the John Lambert. went down they saw
the submarine attack and sink two un-
identified vessels-a steamship and a
bark.
The John Lambert was the last of
the twelve great lakes craft to be TAX
en- to France for delivery. Eighty
members of the crews Of four of them
were passengers on the Espagne to-
day
State Department Acts.
Washington, Dec. 6.-State depart
ment officials had received no reports
early today on the sinking of the
American steamer John Lambert with
out warning by a German submarine
Steps will be taken to ascertain
promptly the facts in the case.
J. The Great Lakes & St Lawrence
Transportation company owned the
John Lambert of 1850 tons gross
which was built at Chicago. The ves-
sci sailed from Montreal on Octo-
Der 20.
American Aboard Sunken Ship.
Madrid. Dec. 6.-The Italian steam
ship Palermo. with twenty-five Amer
leans on board, has been torpedoed
off the Spanish coast. One sailor, re-
ported to be an American, was wound
ed by a shell and died in a hospita
at Palafruge1i, Spain where the sur
were seriously wounded by the tor
pedo.
The Palermo, 9,523 tons gross, sail
ed from New York on November Is
4 for Genoa and Spezia.
New York, Dec 6.-The italian
steamship Palermo left Now York No
vember Is for Genoa and Spezia, and
was last reported assing Gibraltar
en- November %. She carried no pas
sengers but mad on board forty-sever
American horse tenders. In addition
to horses she carried a general cargo
The ship was prmed. it was ID
here at the offices cf fairfield, Solari
& Co, agents of ire navigation ger
erale Italiana, owners Of the Palermo
She carried two three-inch rifles
mounted aft.
Flew French Flag.
New York. Dec 6-John Bernar.
dus, second officer of the John Lam.
bert, said that the vessel flew the
French flag when she went down an6
had been using that flag, altho moi
yet formally turned over to the
French. He said he was on the
bridge at the time the attack begar
and that the first shot struck the wa.
ter about ten feet ahead of the ship.
+ bow. The second, he caid. hit the
bridge. "As soon as the submarine
opened fire on us ordered the
! French flag run up and the men t.
take to the boats" Bernardus said