Perth Amboy evening news., 1917-05-22
NAVY WILL INVESTIGATE
KILLING OF TWO NURSES

Washington, May pa rigid investi-
cation will be made by the navy de-
partment into the character of ammu-
milton supplied by private makers as
the result Of the killing of two nurses
and the wounding Of third by the
bursting Of defective shell on the
armed American liner Mongolia during
target practice.
The Mongolia, which sailed Saturday
with base hospital No. II Of Chicago.
one Of the units going to the French
front. on board, returned to an eastern
port, her nag half masted and with the
bodies Of the victims on board.
They were Miss Edith Ayers and
Miss Helen B. Woods, both of Chicago.
They were killed by flying fragments
when parts Of brass cap In the
breech end Of q six inch she'll broke
during target practice on Sunday
They were 200 feet from the gun. The
third victim, Miss Emma Matsen, was
wounded In the arm and thigh.
The Mongolia, formerly a Pacific
Mail liner, recently In the European
trade under the ownership Of the In
ternational Mercantile Marine, was
! well at sea at the time. She has been
doing little passenger carrying recent
ly, having been transformed into q
cargo vessel. She was the nrst Ameri-
can armed ship to leave a United States
port following President Wilson's proc
lamaton Of armed neutrality" which
preceded the declaration OF war against
Germany.
Second Accident Of Kind.
The real reason for the Mongolia's
return to port was not to bring home
the bodies of the victims, but to re-
place her guns and ammunition,
1t has been the practice among
armed merchantmen to hold target
practice most of the way across the
ocean so that the naval gunners will
be in complete readiness to fire on a
submarine. The accident is the sec
ond which has occurred In like circum-
stances, although the other was not
attended with fatalities. The navy
department is still conducting an In
vestigation to place the responsibility
stores on that occasion.
The accident delayed the sailing for
more than twenty-four hours of the
first American armed passenger liner to
leave for Europe. After the ship had
reached open water barrels were drop
ped overheard and target practice be-
gun. In the midst of the practice q
defective shell exploded in the gun,
damaging 1t and seriously straining the
ship. It was forced to put back and
remain ". an infrequented part of an
eastern harbor for more than a day
while repairs were made.
An immediate investigation of the
circumstances attending the accident
on the Mongolia is expected to be or
dered by Secretary Daniels.
At the time of the Mongolia accident
there were about 280 members of the
hospital unit aboard. Sixty of these
were women nurses.
Bad Ammunition Stories.
The vessel win not put to sea again
until fresh and thoroughly inspected
supply of ammunition has been taken
aboard and repairs have been made to
the gun.
Reports are current that for some
time the navy departments suspicion
has been kept alive by statements from
qualified men that the ammunition fur
nished to American armed liners IL far
below the standard demanded by the
government.
A fragment of the brass shell cas-
ing penetrated Miss Ayers brain, and
another pierced the heart of Miss
Woods. Miss Ayers was graduate OF
Cook County hospital, Miss Woods OF
the Illinois Training School For Nurses.
Miss Watson was struck by smaller
pieces of brass.