River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1917-10-25
The Antilles, HOmeWard Bound,
From France, T0rpedOed
diver Not Sighted.
1857 MEN ARE RESCUED
Single Torpedo Hits Ship in Middle,
Cutting 1t in Two-Sixteen
Returning Soldiers Among
Those Lost.

Washington, Oct. 22.-The Antilles,
an American army transport, home
ward bound under convoy, was torpe-
decd and sunk by German subma-
rine in the War zone Wednesday.
About 70 men are missing and prob
ably lost.
All the army and navy officers
aboard and the ships master were
among the 167 survivors. The missing
are members of the crew, three civil
ian engineers, some enlisted mere Of
the navy and is out of SO soldiers re-
turning home for various reasons.
Neither the submarine nor the torpedo
was seen and the transport, hit square
ly amidships, sank in Ave minutes.
Largest U. s. Casualty List Of War.
This tragedy Of the sea, the first
in which an American ship engaged
in war duty has been lost, is the first
of it's magnitude to bring home to the
people of the United States the rigors
of the war in which they have engaged
against Germany. 1t carries the larg-
est casualty list of the war of Amer
lean lives and marks the first success
of German submarine attacks on Amer
lean transports. That the loss OF life
was not greater was due to the safe
guards with which the navy has sur
rounded the transport service and the
quick rescue work Of the conveying
warships.
Secretary Daniels announced the dis
aster in statement based on brief
dispatch from Vice Admiral Sims,
which gave few details and did not
say whether it was a day or night
attack. An accurate list Of the mis-
sing cannot be issued until General
Pershing reports the names of the
army men on the vessel and the list
Of the merchant crew.
Families of Lost Men Notified.
Upon receipt Of the cablegram from
Admiral Sims the government kept
it's promise not to withhold bad news
from the public. The issuance of the
statement was delayed only until the
navy could telegraph to the families
of the men known to have been lost.
Secretary Daniels carried word OF
the loss of the Antilles to the White
House when he went there with Ad-
miral Mayo, who made his report to
the President on his visit to England
on the direction of the President. The
news added to the gravity Of the hour
that the Secretary and Admiral Mayo
spent In conference with the Presi-
dent.
Few Soldiers Aboard.
Quick upon the wave Of sorrow at
the loss of the transport cameEa feel
ing of distinct relief because she had
met her fate homeward bound and
not on the way over with the troops.
The only soldiers on board were re-
turning to the hospital or on special
assignment. Had the full complement
of the transport been aboard, the loss
undoubtedly would have been written
in hundreds, as she was struck in
the most vulnerable spot and went un-
der so swiftly that few could have es-
capped.
Officials are confident that those
who survived owe their lives to the
careful attention given by the Navy
department to the equipping Of trans
ports with life boats and life RATS.
1t is a fixed rule that enough boats
and RATS shall be carried to afford
a place for every man aboard, even
though the ship keels over and put
half her boats out of commission.
Missile Hit Engine Room.
-
fcers indicates the probability that no
one of the engine and fireroom forces
on duty escaped. Probably most of
them, died in the blast of the explo-
sion of the torpedo which tore its way
into the engine room compartments.
The heavy loss among the army en-
listed men indicated cannot be &C
counted for until further details come
in. Probably they and the navy men
were in their quarters below and could
not make their way on deck before the
ship took her final plunge. The army,
navy and ships officers and the others
rescued were probably on deck, or in
cabins, from which a step took them
To the decks and a chance for their
lives.
Think U-Boat Lay In Wait.
Lacking details of the attack, be-
vond the fact that the submarine was
unseen and that the first warning TO