Connecticut western news., 1916-03-02
145 LIVES LOST
 ON BRITISH SHIP
Steamer NaIOj2 Blown Up In
 English Chalaal.
NO AMERICANS ON BOARD

Rescue Ship Empress of Fort William
 Hits Submarine Explosive and Is De-
 stroyed-Caught In Net Established
 to Protect British Coasts From Hog-
 tile Vessels
 The palatial 12.J0O ton passenger liner Maloja of the Peninsular and Ori- ental line was struck by floating mine when midway between Dover and F6lkestone and sank within thirty min utes after her afterpart had been blown up in terrific explosion.
 There were 119 passengers and crew of 300 aboard Almost all of the passengers were reported saved
 At last accounts the number of dead was reported more than forty" It is feared that the actual number of vic tims may be between 150 and POO. No Americans are believed to have been aboard
 The mine which caused the Maloia's destruction is believed to have been one of the largest net spread by the British navy for the protection of Eng lands coast against German naval raiders.
 Rescue Ship Hits Mine.
 While helping in the rescue work the British steamship Empress of Fort William, 1893 tons gross. herself struck mine within half a mile of the sink ing Maloja and immediately began to settle her stern and fore part. She kept above the water long enough to enable the crew to take to the boats. then suddenly exploded and disappear ed in a cloud of steam.
 There was a stormy sea, however. and the rescue work was made under difficult circumstances. These were rendered still worse by the sudden ex- plosion on the Empress of Fort Will liam. which divided the rescue vessels and added greatly to the dramatic ele- ment of the situation.
 No Panic on Vessel.
 A remarkable feature of the prelimi- nary reports is the assertion that there was no panic. The simultaneous sink ing of the two vessels, both destroyed by mine. with hundreds of men and women in the water struggling for their lives, offered one of the most spectacular scenes witnessed off Do- yer. The fleet torpedo craft scurrying about, aiding in the rescue, gave the spectacle a martial touch, and one might well have imagined a naval fight was in progress.
 The only halfway statement concern ing the loss of life came from Dover in the form of a dispatch saying that more than forty dead from the Ma loja have been landed here"
 The Peninsular and Oriental line statement, after telling of the cause. time and scene of the disaster, said:
 "The afterpart of the ship was blown up. There was a high sea, and the captain, seeing that extensive damage had been done, tried to beach the liner. but was unsuccessful in this, the en- zine room being full of water. The vessel sank in about half an hour.''
 Survivors Landed at Dover.
 There were 119 passengers on board. who embarked in London. A large number were rescued from the water by the ships boats, by patrol boats and other craft. The survivors were landed at Dover. Their wants were attended to at the Lord Warden hotel and on a hospital ship. Almost all of the pas sengerS were saved.
 All of the ships boats had been swung out ready for emergency The passengers fortunately had time to put on life belts. They had been instructed on the previous evening in their use The captain reports that all passengers and crew behaved splendidly.
 Dispatches from Dover give the de. tails of the disaster
 They say the Maloja sank about two miles off shore. The explosion was heard and seen at Dover. and tugs and motorbOats raced promptly to her aid. Patrol boats also responded speedily to the Maloia's distress calls. Crowds 1