New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-12
10 Passengers Fear
Same Fate When
Ship Is Shelled
PRAY WHEN THEY
HEAR OF WAR ZONE
American Liner Arrives in
Port "Darkened" TO
Escape Submarines


and trepidation the renewal Of Ger
r.nv's submarine campaign from the
inner deck OF the 13,O00-ton American
liner Krooniand was recounted yester-
ssv BY the passengers themselves on
their arrival from Liverpool.
Three flashes at half-minute inter
4 vsls. accompanied by tiny puffs OF
white smoke and dull reports from the
forward gun of giant U-boat, pre-
,eded the sinking Of a Dutch freighter,
also bound for New York. of Fast
not on February !. Although the neu-
trsl cargo boat was sunk several miles
away. many Of the passengers believed
that the Kroonland's turn would come
next and prayed for deliverance.
The liners officers believed the
sunksn merchantmen the Epsilon, OF
32ii tons. They also told of sighting
mysterious vessel, thought to be a
hostile submarine, accompanied by a
fast steamer, which had the appearance
Of raider, or mother" ship for
undersea craft.
Did Not Know of war Zone" Note
The Kroonland sailed from Liverpool
on January 81, the day on which the
German note was received By the State
Department. None of the passengers
knew Of the note and the first news OF
me latest "var zone" and rupture Of
diplomatic relations was received by
wireless when FIVE days at sea.
The Kroonland was passing In sight
OF the Irish coast on the morning after
she sailed from Liverpool, when large
British destroyer overhauled her, and
remained in view until shortly after
noon.
ASP. m the coast Of Ireland had
been left ss:ern and the only sight OF
terra frma was Fsstnet, high. rocky
promontary. Seven vessels could be
seen in the oafng, bound to Liverpool
or Queenstown.
few minutes later large Dutch
vessel appeared with the flag Of Hol-
land painted on either side, headed on
southwesterly course. The vessel
was about nine miles distant when
suddenly a giant submarine appeared
and halted the neutral freighter.
Figures could be seen running along
inc half submerged surface of the SUBJ
marine, while two figures could be dis
cerned in tho coming tower. Mean,
while the crew Of the freighter lowered
the hfebost. and rs they we're pulling
away the submarines gun fired three
shots about thirty seconds apart
Passengers saw the large Dutch
freghter list 20 port and sink IN a
swirl Of white foam. For several min
utes the lifebost containing the crew
was lost 20 view.
Submarine Tows Lifeboat
Captain Thomas G. Barman, COM
mander Of the Kroonland, said he had
about decided 20 change his course TO
rescue the survivors. whose frall boat
he believed had been capsized by the
ing safely about a quarter Of mile
ssten OF the spot where the frelghter
BAD been torpedoed.
The submarine headed for the life
boat. and a few minutes later could be
fesn towing il, so Captain Barman held
hs course. Instead Of towing the sur
rivors toward Fastnet, which was
about FIVE miles distant, the submarine
headed in the opposite direction, and
ihe last seen OF either submarine or
.feboat was a black dot as they dipped
over the horizon out 20 sea.
II is believed that the lifeboat soon
'oundered, as IL was thought impos-
sible FOR a small boat 20 live long IN
ne ehoppy sea then running.
On the afternoon OF February 3 a
afge vessel appeared about FIVE miles
away, running parallel with the Kroon-
and. she had no distinguishing mark,
BAT showed great speed. II was thought
a frst that she might be the German
raider Moewe, as her one funnel, two
n1sts and high poop deck correspond
- 70 the raiders description. The
vtsssl was equipped with two large
ioaelng dsrricks fore and aft, and q
srge steel crane. These led 70 the
esisf that she was mother" ship
fof tubmSrincs.
This ship continued on a west-by-
bgh courts for some time, then she
,ssfeo on a. right angles, circled 70
~ Eouihward and was soon lost "a
agat
Wireless Tells Of "Wsr Zone"
Tie same day a wireless message
ahhoUnced that Germany had issGed
As rev submarine note and that the
1nitfo States had severed diplomatic
ffisl.ons.
rassengcrs then realized that they
~ narrowly escaped being torpedoed
20 several held an impromptu re-
sess service in the saloon, offering
" prayers
Ater learning of the German note
syiain Bsrman ordered all lights e1-
fsiAhod excepting the port, star
7,.fe 400 masthead sailing lights.
hs kroonland 10 the first American
~ 70 arrive In port darkened
htfto sll vessels of the American
~ nave arrived with electric lghts
'hinaiing The Stars and Stripes
Ne ou eaeh side and powerful
f,flght playing On the American
alin2 over the stern tafrau
A"thT Che KfOOuiand's oassengers
a. Atf Nsudc Kahn. daughter OF
-. y Kahn. Miss Kshs has been
sx.sp iof siz months engaged In war