The Washington herald., 1916-12-23
LINER VOLTAIRE
REPORTED SUNK
OFF LIVERPOOL
Lapport & Holt Steamer Car
ried Crew of l40, One
third Americans.
TWO WEEKS OVERDUE
Officials of Line Practically Give Up
Hope-Admiralty Begins
Probe.

CBy the International News servfce.)
New York, Dec. 2.-The Il, ,ooo-ton Lam
port and Holt passenger liner, Voltaire,
with q crew Of 40. probably one-third OF
them Americans is believed to have been
sunk on Liverpool by a German sub
marine.
The liner Is two weeks overdue in New
York and II was learned today, officials
of the line have all but given up hope
that she will ever be seen again.
Even the possibility that she might
have become disabled and be drifting on
the open sea was lesseHed by the news
today that the Vauban, of the same
line. due in New York. and which left
Liverpool two weeks after the Voltaire,
was heard from by wireless at Halifax
on Thursday.
An official of the line totd newspaper
men tonight that the company had been
keeping the matter quiet, hoping against
hope that the VOltaire would eventually
turn up.
May BE Disabled.
There is one slim chance" this offi-
cial said, that the Voltaire might have
broken her shaft and is unable to pro-
ceed. But she is equipped with a power
full wireless apparatus and could easily
summon aid. Our only hope is that she
is refraining from using her wireless for
fear she might divulge her position to
submarines.
IF she Is lost and her crew has been
set out in open boats. 1 would not give
them ten minutes as the time they prob
ably would survive in the present
weather.
We were more hopeful until the New
York arrived the other day after a pas
sage through heavy seas. Now We dc
not believe we will ever hear from her. -
This oficial said no vessel since the war
began had drifted two weeks without
calling aid II she was equipped with wire
less.
Tho VoItaire left Liverpool on Novem-
ber 2S In ballast She was due hare about
twelve to fifteen days later. She was to
have sailed for South America with 8
cargo IN which would have been more
than A.oooooo IN gold The sailing has
been cancelled. It was announced tonight
Many Americans Aboard.
No official information was obtainabls
as to the exact number Of Americans on
board the Voltaire. 1t was stated. how
ever. that when she left New York early
IN November with a cargo of meat for
Liverpool she had a crew Of 147 men,
about one-third Of them Americans. The
crew was paid in Liverpool. The num-
Der OF Americans re-shipping could not
be obtained. It was stated that probably
all Of them would return with the
vessel
The Voltaire was one of the fastest
boats OF the Lamport and Holt line. She
has been In the New York-Buenos Aires
trade and has made several trips south
in the last year. She was especially de-
sirable for this purpose because Of the
big demand for steamers equipped with
strong rooms to carry gold. Gold Is
being shipping in great quantities by
bankers to South America to pay for
American imports there.
No search is being directed for the ves-
sci from this side, it was stated. but the
British admiralty several days ago began
an investigation Whether warships have
been sent in search Is not known here.
The boat was built in Glasgow in 1907
and was under the British flag.