Evening journal., 1917-10-20

WASHINGTON. Oct. 2O.-on Oct. II,
lomeward bound under convoy. the
iteamship Antilles. an army trans
,ott. formerly a Morgan liner. was
orpedoed and sunk by a German sub
marine. About seventy persons are
Missing out OF 237 on board. The
-essel went down in five minutes.
Being on a return voyage, the Antil-
es carried no great body OF troops
There were. however. several army
,fhcers on board and thirty-three en-
listed men. or the latter, sixteen
we're lost. Three engineer officers OF
he ship also we're lost
The official announcement Of the
disaster. authorized by Secretary OF
he Navy Daniels. after conference
with Secretary OF War Baker. and
after the matter had been discussed
by President Wilson and the Cabinet
The department is in receipt Of
a despatch from Vice admiral
Sims which states that the steam
ship Antilles, an army transport,
was torpedoed on Oct u while re-
turning TO this country from
foreign service. The vessel was
under convoy OF American patrol
vessels at the time.
The torpedo which struck the
Antilles was not seen, nor was the
submarine which fired II. The
torpedo hit abreast of the engine
room bulkhead and the ship sank
within five minutes. One hundred
and sixty-seven persons out OF
about 237 on board the Antilles
we're saved.
About seventy men are missing.
All the naval officers and officers
Of the army who were on board
the ship at the time were saved.
as we're the officers OF the ship
with the exception Of the follow
ing.
Walker. third engineer officer.
Boyle, junior engineer officer.
O'Rourke. junior engineer officer
The following enlisted naval per
sonnel were lost:
i. L. Kinsey. seaman. second
class. next of kin Thomas B. Kin
sey. father. Water Valley, Miss
j. w. Hunt, seaman, second
class. next OF kin Isaac Hunt
father. Mountain Grove. Mo, r.
No 2. box A.
c. l.. Ausburn- radio electrician,
first class, next OF kin r. Ausburn,
brother. No. $500 Louisiana
avenue New Orleans.
II. f. Watson. radio electrician,
third class. next Of kin Mrs. w.
l.. Seger. mother. Rutland. Mass.
There were about thirty-three
Of the army enlisted personnel on
board, OF whom seventeen we're
saved. The names Of the missing
OF the army enlisted personnel
and OF the merchant crew of the
ship cannot be given until the
muster roll in France OF those on
board has been consulted. As
soon as the department Is IN re-
ceipt OF further details concern
ing the casualties they Will be
made public Immediately.
This tragedy of the sea the first /
which an American ship engaged
war duty has been lost, is the fir
OF its magnitude TO bring home
the people of the United States N
rigors OF the war in which they hay
engaged against Germany. II carrie
the largest casualty list or the wa
OF American lives, and marks the fr
success OF German submarine attacf
on American transports.
That the loss Of life was not create
IS due to the safeguards with whic
the navy has surrounded the tran
port service, and the quick reset
work OF the conveying warships.
Secretary Daniels carried word
the loss OF the Antilles to the Viii
House when he went there late In u
day with Admiral Mayo, who mac
HIS report to President Wilson on h
Visit 10 England at the direction
the President The news added 10 q
gravity OF the hour that the Secretai
and Admiral Mayo spent in confe
enuce with the President
Quick upon the wave Of sorrow
the news OF the loss OF the transpo
came a feeling Of distinct relief b
cause she had met her fate homewa
bound and not on the way over WI
troops Had the fun complement Of q
transport been aboard the loss u
doubleday would have been IN hu
drcds. as she was struck I'm the me
vulnerable spot and went under
swiftly that few could have escuped
Officials are confident that those w
survived owe their lives TO the carei
attention given by the Navy Departme
10 the oQuipping OF transports wi
llfebosts and life RATS. 10 is a flx
rule that enough boats and RATS sh
be carried TO afford place for eve
man aboard. even though the ship k
over and put half her boats out
commission.
Loss In Engine Room.
The loss Of the ships engineer Office
Indicates the probability that no O
- of the engine and flroroom force
duty escaped. Probably most OF thi
died In the blast OF the explosion
The torpedo which tore its way II
the engine room compartments.
The heavy loss among the army ,
listed men indicated cannot be accoui
ed for until further details come
Probably they and the navy men w
IN their quarters below and could 1
make their way on deck before the 81
took her final plunge The army. ma
and ships officers and the others W
were rescued probably were on do
or m cabins from which a step "a
them TO the deck and a chance
their lives.
Naval officers who discussed the d
ouIr- cofd fr.rlsI.r 81 - A. ffi