The sun., 1917-10-20

Out of 237 men aboard 70
lost. Three of them are offic,
men in the army and the remail
crew. All of the army and ma,
ship have been saved.
When struck the Antilles was
sells. But so craftily did the U-boat
submarine nor the torpedo was see
ing came when the torpedo struck
escaped the most vital part of the sf
News Of this misfortune. the first Of
It's kind suffered by the American
arms since the war began. was an
nounced by the Navy Department at
: o'clock tonight following the re-
ceipt Of a despatch from Vice-Admiral
Sims. TIE announcement was as fol-
lows:
Tho Department is In receipt Of a
despatch from Vice-Admiral Sims
which states that tie steamship An
TILES, an army transport. was tor
pedoed on October II while returning
to this country from foreign service.
This vessel was under convoy Of
American patrol vessels at the time.
titles was not seen. nor was the SUBJ
marine which fired it. The torpedo
hit abreast Of the engine room bulk
head and the ship sank within Ave
minutes. One hundred and sixty.
seven persons out Of about 237 on
board the Antilles were saved. About
seventy men are missing.
There Were ABOUT thirty-three Of the
army enlisted personnel on board. OF
whom seventeen were saved. The names
Of the missing Of the army enlisted per-
eonnel and OF the merchant crew OF the
ship cannot be given until the muster
roll I'm France OF those on board has
been consulted. As soon as the Depart
ment is In receipt Of further details con-
earning the casualties they will be made
public Immediately"
Presumably Admiral Sims's despatch
did not give the number Of naval and
army officers returning on the trans
port. all OF whom were saved There is
so much other important information
necessary to be transmitted at this time
that details OF this character are not
sent In time OF war. The War Depart
ment tonight was without any informa-
ton as to what officers could have been
on the ship. and likewise the Navy
Department
Men Picked Up ~ Patrol ships.
Presumably the patrol vessels picked
up the army and navy officers and re-
turned to the American base. from which
they will embark on later vessels. Of
hcers OF all branches of the service con-
stantly are returning with reports and
Tor other purposes. The transports
themselves on their homeward voyages
do not as rule carry any cargo, II was
said
Omcers lost were apparently recruited
from the merchant marine.
Other details will be forthcoming as
soon as Admiral Sims can obtain the
facts. II will be necessary to have a
complete muster roll. from Gen PERISH
Ing and check this up with the persons
saved before an accurate list Of those
missing can be compiled. This may
take several days
The despatch from Admiral Sim.
reached here early this afternoon and
It's purrort was at once taken to the
White House. where tho Cabinet was in
session. Secretary Daniels left the
Cabinet meeting without delay to confer
with Admiral Benson. Chief OF Naval
Operations Later he conferred with
Secretary Baker.
Rumors of disaster in tho meantime
spread rapidly through the War and
Navy Department Building. the general
supposition at hrst being that a trans
port heavily loaded with troops had been
sunk. Officials declined. however. to
deny or confirm these rumors But II
was announced that the news would be
given TO the public at ! o'clock
Suspense Keen for y Time.
A suspense only equalled by that pre-.
ceding tho details OF the Titanic disaster
ensued for a short time
The appearance of Secretary Daniels
and Admiral Mayo, commander in chief
OF the battleship feet, at the White
House shortly after these rumors began
TO spread was naturally linked with
them. Tho appointment for Admiral
Mayo's visit at the White House, how
aver, was made several DAYS ago and
had no connection with the despatch
Admiral Sims sent.
Postponement OF the announcement
until this evening was due to the desirA
OF tho Navy Department TO notify the
relatives Of the known victims by tele-
graph before they could learn Of II
through TIE newspapers This has been
the established policy Of the Depart
ment II was explained. As a matter Of
fact the real nature Of tho disaster be.
came known long before the announce
ment. and extra editions OF tho news
papers were on the streets all over the
country an hour or more before tho
Committee on Public Information.
News Shocks the President.