Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-03-16


ferred to the warmer waters Of the
Mediterranean, and then finally was
much restricted until the spring Of
1916. On March 1 the submarine cam
paign was resumed with renewed ruth
lessness.
Campaign 10 Renewed.
The Patria of the French line, car
| rying no armament whatever, sailing
from Naples to New York, was at
tackled without warning by a subma-
rine north Of Tunis. Passengers and
crew saw the torpedo pass harmlessly
under the Patria's stern and some saw
periscOpe. The Patria put on full
speed and escaped further attack, but
had another narrow escape in the same
way the next month. Americans were
| on board in both instances.
With the renewal of the submarine
campaign the destruction Of ships
sometimes numbered as high as ten
in one day, but only those cases which
involved Americans are treated here.
On March 9, 1916, while lying at an
Choir in Havre roads, the Norwegian
bark Silius was torpedoed and sunk
without warning. A survivor Of the
French steamship Louisiana, tOrpedOed
fifteen minutes previously 500 yards
away, swore he saw the submarine.
There were seven Americans in the
crew of the Silius, and one was injured.
The next great passenger ship de-
C<r fhn phov
tia. While In the North sea, sailing to
Rio de Janeiro. an explosion rent the
ship asunder, and she sank. Three
Americans were passengers. All per-
sons on board were saved except one
Russian. Germany disclaimed respon-
sibility. The Dutch government made
an investigation which indicated sub
marine attack.
On March IS, 1915, the British steam
ship Berwindvale, with four Americans
on board. was torpedoed without warn
ing off Bantry, Ireland, but no lives
were lost.
On March "a, 1915. a German sub
marine chased the Dominion steam
ship Englishman, bound from Avon
mouth to Portland, Me-, and while the
crew was attempting to abandon the
ship, shot away her starbOard life
boats. After more firing, as the crew
was leaving the ship, the submarine
torpedoed and sank her. One Ameri-
can of the crew was among the ten
lost.
elimination Of Atrocities.
On the same day came the culmina-
ton of the long list Of submarine out
RACES which caused President Wilson
to lay the whole situation before con-
gress. and to notify Germany that un-
less such methods Of warfare positive
ly were discontinued and declared at
an end, the United States would break
off diplomatic relations. 1t was the
destruction Of the French Channel
steamship Sussex, between Folkestone
and Dieppe. Every bit of evidence
went to prove that the ship was tor
pedoed without warning.
On March q, 1916, the British ship
Manchester Engineer, outbound from
Philadelphia, was torpedoed and sunk
without warning Is miles south OF
Waterford. Two American negroes
were in the crew of 80. All On board
were rescued.
On March % the British steamship
Eagle Point was shelled by a German
submarine 100 miles south of Queens.
town. The Eagle Point gave up her
attempt to escape, and her crew Of AZ
which included one American. took to
the boats in heavy swell and q
stormy wind. Finally all were saved
The submarine sank the ship with q
torpedo.
After Germany gave her promises as
the result Of the Sussex notes, there
was temporary lull in submarine
warfare, but within q few weeks II
began again.
The next development came wher
Germany carried the submarine war tC
the American side of the Atlantic. Or
Saturday. October Z. 1916. the German
war submarine U-53 entered Newport
harbor unannounced, delivered q pack
age of mail for the German embassy
and departed as swiftly as she haC
come. Within the next 4S hours SHE
) sank six ships within sight of tn,
: American coast-fOur British, ont
Dutch and one Norwegian. With thu
; assistance of the American destroyer
fiOtilla, all lives were saved. 1t ap
peared that in each case the Subma
rine commander had given legal warn
ing and permitted the escape Of pas
sengers.
Americans Endangered.
On October 20, 1916, the British
merchant ship Rowanmore was at
tackled by a German submarine, fled
was overhauled and destroyed by gun
fire. There was no loss Of life, al
though two Americans and five Fill
pinOs (naturalized Americans), tn
only Americans aboard. declared tn
submarine shelled the lifeboats as the.
were leaving the ship.
On October 80 the British ship Ma
rina, bound for the United States, wa
torpedOed and, of more than fit.
Americans on board six were lost.
Then followed the attack on tn
American steamship Chemung, the los
of II Americans on the steamship Rus
sian, and finally came the notice tina