The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-04-23
HOSPITAL SHIPS
TORPEOOEO BY
SUBMARINES
German Wounded Perish When La
france Is Sent to BOttum
GERMANS SHOW WHITE FEATHER
Prussan Guardsmen Made Mad Rush
for Lifeboat Which Was
capsized.

London, April 22.-The British hos
pital ships Donegal and Lanfranc Will
many wounded aboard have been tor
pedoed without warning. Tney wer,
sunk April II. or those on the Done
gal twenty-nine wounded men and
twelve of the crew are missing. The
Lanfranc carried German wounded as
we'll as British. OF those aboard nine
teen British and fifteen Germans are
believed to have perished
The chancellor of the eXchequer, An
drew Bonar Law, announced April Is
in the house of commons that there
had recently been further losses OF
British hospital ships, which would be
published soon. Today the secretary
of the admiralty issued the following
statement:
"On the evening of April II the
steamships Donegal and Lanfranc,
while transporting wounded to Brit
ish ports were torpedoed without
warning The Donegal carried slight
ly wounded cases, all British. Twenty
nine men as well as twelve of the
crew are missing and are presumed to
have been drowned.
The Lanfranc, in addition to 234
wounded British officers and men,
carried 167 wounded German pris-
oners. a medical personnel of fifty
two, and crew of 1913. or these,
the following are missing and are pre-.
sumed to have been drowned, Two
wounded British officers; eleven
wounded British other ranks, one roy
al army medical corps staff; five Of
the crew; FIVE wounded German Off
GERS and ten wounded German other
ranks.
"One hundred and fifty-two
wounded German prisoners were
rescued by British patrol vessels at
the imminent risk of being them
selves torpedoed
lowing to the German practice
of sinking hospital ships at sight
and TO the fact that distinctive mark
ing and lighting of such vessels make
them more conspicuous targets for
German submarines, it has become no
longer possible TO distinguish our hos
pital ships in the customary manner.
One of these two ships, therefore.
though carrying wounded. was not in
any way outwardly distinguished as
hospital ship. The distinctive mark
ings Of the other had not been re-
The story of the sinking of the hos
pital ship Lanfranc will rank with the
histories of the Birkehead
and Tyndareus. The British soldiers
stood at attention while the ship was
slowly sinking beneath them. Their
conduct was in marked contrast to
that of the Prussian guardsmen
aboard, who in the moment of danger
rushed for the life boats.
"The Lanfranc was attacked by
submarine about 79O O'Clock Tuesday
evening said an officer The crash
shook the liner violently. the ex-
plosion sending splinters of wood and
glass flying in all directions. Within
a few minutes the engines stopped
and the vessel seemed to be sinking
rapidly, but to our surprise she stead
led herself, and after while remain
ed motionless. We had aboard pris-
oners of the Prussian guard and many
British wounded, including some seri
Gus cases.
The moment the torpedo struck,
the Prussians made mad rush for
the life boats When they were order
ed to await their turn, many showed
by dropping on their
knees and imploring pity
THE crew and staff went to their
posts. The stretcher cases were low
cred first to the boats. Meanwhile, in
response to distress calls many yes
sells came hurrying to our assistance.
Even while wounded and helpless Tom
mics lay unaided in their cots, the
cowardly prisoners made another at
tempt and managed to crowd into
life boat, which, however, toppled
over directly after it was lowered
Then they fought with each other to
reach another boat containing wound
eG.
Il shall never forget the behavior
Of our own lads. They tried to stand
at attention, crippled as they were,
while the graver cases were being
looked after. The crew staff remained
at their posts until the last man was
taken off. Some doffed their gar
ments and threw them to those in the
ifeboats wanting warm clothing, and
in the midst of the distress and trag-
edy our men were able to strike up
some popular ditties.