The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-13
Afric, 1899 Tons, Biggest
Prize of U-BOat Warfare.
Some Fatalities, but Number
Not Yet Announced.
Conveyed FLEET REACHES NY.
Seven Big Steamers Guarded by
Warships Thru Zone.
British Establish Safety zone
Clear Across Atlantic.

London. Feb. 13.-The w mite 9ldi
steamer Afric was sunk today.
The Afric was steel vessel, of H.
500 tons the biggest thus far reported
to have fallen victim to the German
submarine warfare. She was the
property of the White Star line anu
was registered at Liverpool
The Afric was $50 feet in length
with A beam of sixty7three feet II
was announced later that several per-
ished" in the sinking of the liner.
Seventeen of the Afric's crew were
reported missing.
Formerly in Passenger Service.
New York. Feb. 13.-Germany's
lfggest prize in the submarine war
fare since February l was recorded TO-
day when the 1892 ton White star
liner Afric was sunk.
The biggest ship heretofore de
stroved in the unbridled submarine
warfare was the British steamer Cali
f, rnia. of S,662 tons; the Port AIDE
lafde, 500 tons. being third largest
Local offices Of the White Star line
said today the Afric was formerly IN
passenger service between LlVerpool
and Australia. They did not know
whether she was now in admiralty ser
wee. but assumed she had been com
mandeered, like other large liners Tor
troop transport service.
Seven steamers from various Brit
ish ports arrived in New YORK mar
Dor today within few hours of each
other. They Immediately suggested
TO shipping men that the vessels had
been conveyed across the Atlantic IN
a body and when passengers We're m
terviewed they confirmed the convic-
ton that the admiralty had evolved
such a scheme of meeting the subma-
rine menace.
Convoy Ships in Fleets.
When the Cunard liner Ascania,
which was among todaES arrivals
from Liverpool left England fifty mer-
hantmen were concentrated IN wat
elS nearby, awaiting convoy, paSSen-
gers of the Ascania said. As warships
arrived the steamers were escorted off
on their voyages in groups of three
and four
While traversing waters about Eng
land trawlers went ahead of the ships
with heavy steel nets stretched be-
tween them to sweep up mines and
guard against torpedoes, the passen-
Ee~s said.
For two days the conveys remained
constantly in sight of the liners and
merchant vessels
Miss n NJ Anderson, a Red Cross
nurse, of Brooklyn, who was among
the passengers on the Ascania told of
the escort Of warships that accompan-
led that ship.
For two days" sail Miss Ander-
son, the conveys were always in sight.
After that time warships could just
be distinguished on the horizon. We
learned, however. that the different
vessels we saw were in wireless COM
mUnication with each ether at all
times. From the time We left Eng
land until American waters were
reached we were under the protection
of the warslips guarding the Atlantic
lane.
ION the second day out we saw a
vessel blown up some distance away,
but could not learn its name | saw
the hulks of nine ships that had been
disabled. After we had been out some
time we seemed to take an extreme
southerly course. 1t became much
warmer, but we We're unable to lea IN
where We were. The captain and
members of the crew refused to give
our location"
The Ascania carried ten cabin and
seven third class passengers.
The Laconia arrived at almost the
same time with thirty-seven passen-
gers They reported picking UP an
y Q. s. call shortly after leaving
Liverpool. Two cruisers escorting the
Laconia left her, apparently in re-
Spouse to the call.
The other ships arriving were the
Atlas and Hermes from London. the
clifton and Stoaker from Cardiff and
tho Brighton from Barry.
Safety Lane Across the Atlantic.
New York, Feb. 1S.-England has
established veritable lane from the
9hores OF America to British ports.
guarded by warships. which are in
constant touch by wireless. Commun-
IGauon between the patrol ships and
me admiralty Is never interrupted. So
closely is the chain of guarding shins
Grawn. This was clearly Indicated to-
day by passengers arriving from En-
land. 0-ii Eng
6,SOS Tons Down Besides Afric
Washington, Feb. 1S-LIovds. ra-
port today of ships sunk bv subn1s-
rihes SHOWS a total of 6.SOS tons. All
ire vessels named have been reported
by news dispatches except the Rritisb
brgantlne Ada, which the TIo,,d
asency said had been sunk by gunfire
without warning. Her crew was res
cued. (This report does not inclnds
the Afric.) LII oe