The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-05-26
STORY OF SINKING
OF A TRANSPORT
What Takes Place Is Graphically Told
BY Man Who Has Been Through
the Experience.

London, May 26--Correspondent Of the
Associated Press-What happens when
a transport loaded with troops is sunk
by German submarine is graphically
told in the story of the sinking of the
steamer Ballarat which was torpedoed
April 20, while carrying Australian
troops to England and sunk without the
loss OF man. Drill, discipline and ira
dition counted. There were no heroics,
fuss or panic, but considerable humor
and much efficiency. As the vessel did
not sink for four hours, there was ample
time to save even the ships pets and
the soldiers maseots.
1t was AnZac day and the officers were
planning to hold a memorial service. The
commanding officer was dealing with a
remanded case. And what have you
been doing?" he asked, when there came
a dull crash, a sound that seemed as
he said, "to lift the skin off your face"
and the ship began to take list. The
alarm" was instantly sounded by the
buglers, instantly followed by the "ad-
vance" Without confusion of any kind
the men in four minutes, fell in at their
boat stations. During the voyage they
had been told the stories of the South
land and "Birkenhead" of the behavior
of the troops and men on these occasions.
Those men who had used flowery and
fluent parts of speech concluding the
previous boat drills now used equally
literary expressions in praise OF them.
Its all right boys" man called out,
"the old man is on the bridge"
Don't sing too loud" said an officer
laughing, because | can't give orders"
The order to "stand-easy" was given
out.
The turn of the navy came now. The
men knew instinctiyely that the navy
would turn up. 1t turned up. Destroy
ers and trawlers appeared like magic
There was a moderate sea, and the ship
having been struck near the propeller,
began settling down by the stern.
While waiting for the boats to be
lowered some OF the men sang, some set
tied down to play cards, and most of
them smoked. The nurses remained with
the medical staff until all the patients
had been provided for, and the whole
medical staff remained with the patients
until they were safely placed in boats.
Every pet was saved, with the excep-
tions of some of the ships cats, and
cats, as Kipling says, prefer to walk
alone. Over the side went Bill Amaze, an !
Australian parrot in cage; a gray |
squirrel had the run of a raft; a fox
TERROR and her puppies are now guests of |
the officers of destroyer. And it was
all done decently and in order.
The bandmaster who was wont to call |
upon his band to fall in by means of |
certain call on his cornet had saved |
that instrument and when the men were
in the boats they heard from destroyer
the old familiar cornet sing out, and |
across the water came great noise OF
laughter from all the boats because the
little Joke had struck home. The men
had lost their ship, were miles from any
where, in open boats, but they could see
the humor of it.
1t wasn't exactly courage, because
heaps of men were in a funk; and it
wasn't exactly bluff, because you can't
put up bluff in sinking ship, and
the sea looks awfully big when one can't
see any land, and there's Just a hand
full Of officers running the job and enough
boats, and fearful ignorance of mari
time geography. 1t is a thing which is
very difficult to define. IL was the voice
of the empire speaking to each man and
saying eve do the thing well, and we
always have, and we are always going
20 Are you gamey" The men were
splendid.
They were landed with promptness
and dispatch, and some set foot on Eng
land for the first time without boots.
The submarine was never seen, she
plays a small part in this affair, but the
British navy was there and took a very
great part; prompt assistance, up to
time and no fuss |.