Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-10-20
Sinks AN
AMERICAN TRANSPORT
CONTINUED from Page ~

made his report.to President Wilson
on his visit to England at the direc-
ton of the president. The news add
ed to the gravity Of the hour that the
secretary and Admiral May spent in
conference with the president.
Quick upon the a of sorrow at
the news of the loss of the transport
came a feeling Of distinct relief be-
cause she had met her fate home
ward bound. and lot on the way over
with troops. The only soldiers on
board were returning 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 vul-
nerable spot and went under so swift
ly that few could have escaped.
Officials are confident hat those
careful attention given by the navy
department to the equipping of trans
ports with lifeboats and life RATS.
All in Engine Room Dead.
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 keel over and put
half her boats out of commission.
The loss of the ships engineer Of
ficers indicates the probability that
no one of the engine and fore room
forces on duty escaped. Probably
most of them died in the blast of the
explosion of the torpedo, which tore
it's way into the engine room COM
partments.
The heavy loss among the army
enlisted men indicated cannot be ac-
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 be-
fore the ship took her final plunge.
The army, navy and ships officers and
the others who we're rescued prob
ably were on deck or in cabins from
which a step took them to the deck
and a chance for their lives.
Lacking details of the attack, be-
yond the fact that the submarine was
unseen and the first warning to those
aboard the Antilles came with the
many theories were current as to how
the U-boat crept through the destroy
er screen. did its work and escaped
unchallenged.
May Have Run Over U-Boat.
A majority Of the officers who
would comment thought the transport
"AAN ASA PoSlolo ~ uH VII
rectly over a lurking submarine which
saw them coming, calculated the dis
lance and launched the deadly torpe-
do without ever showing more than
her %periscope. They regard it as
probable that the U-boat commander
picked his place. lay in wait below the
surface until his microphones told him
port was upon him, then shot his per-
iscope above water only long enough
to sight and fire before he ducked
back to safety.
Any attempt to locate the submarine
probably was made impossible by the
necessity of rescuing the survivors.
The vessel must have been virtually
torn in half by the explosion to have
gone down in the time she did.
Probably the attack was made we'll
out at sea. It took two days for the
news to reach Washington and the
dispatch shows the time that must
have elapsed before definite word
could reach Admiral Sims. The sur
vivors are believed to be already
safe ashore somewhere in France or
England.
SO far as known, no high officers
OF the army or navy were due to re-
turn on the Antilles. There Is no def
mite information on that point, how
Who was sent home ~ the hin n ~ :
reports so far received show merely
LA enlisted man Of the armv wera
aboard. Evidently Admiral SIM
rushed his tidinrs or before he com
municated with General Pershins,
-
New York. Oct. 2o.-The Antilies.
a freight ana passenger Steamship Of
6.87S tor q owned Nv fhe soi,th-
ern pacidc STEAMSHIP company IMor
erican' coast liners. she plied be-