Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-10-25
SURVIVORS. OF
ANTILLES LANDED
They Report Many on TOrpedOed
Transport Were Killed
in Berths.
CREW STUCK TO POSTS.
Submarine Was Not sighted-All Who
Pcrished Come within Scope of the
New Wnr Insurance Law.

A French Port, Oct. 21.-Survivors of the
United States transport Antilles. which
was sunk by German submarine last
week while being conveyed on her home
ward trip by American warships. were
landed here to-day by auxiliary vessels
and are being cared for by the American
consulate. Some of the men have been
lodged in local hotels and few left for
Paris.
The torpedo struck the ship at a quar-
ter to seven on Wednesday morning.
Many of those on board were killed in
their berths and others while dressing.
The explosion killed the engineers. oilers,
and mechanics and those of the crew who
were in the hunks below.
All the survivors praise the captain of
the Antilles and the members of the gun
crew who stuck to their posts while the
officers searched with field glasses for the
submarine until the waves closed over
the ship.
LEAPED 50 FEET INTO THE SEA.
When the Antilles sank 40 or so men
were at the stern Most of them leaped so
feet or more into the sea as the stern rose
to perpendicular position and some
were drawn down by the suction of the
sinking vessel.
The submarine was not sighted either
before or after. the explosion. The sea
was running high at the time making
1t difficult to save the crew and pas
sengers. Some survivors, clinging to
debris were in the water an hour be-
fore they were sighted by the life
boats.
The department tonight was await
ing the complete casualty list and the
survivors story of the attack. The
complete roster of the dead cannot be
made up until the names of the sur
vivors are checked off the muster roll
prepared at the French port of en-
barkation.
WAR INSURANCE LAW APPLIES.
.-- All hands in the military and naval
service who persisted on the Antilles
came within the scope of the new wal
insurance law, the treasury department
announced tonight, and thereby au-
tomatically carried insurance to the
amount of $4,000 each.
This sum will be paid the families OF
the dead soldiers and sailors in monthly
instalments Of $25 each over a period OF
20 years. 1t is in addition to compensa
tons which will be paid to widows, chill
dren and dependent mothers of the men
widow. for example, will be paid 81
insurance and s25 compensation, a tota
of $50. While the $25 insurance is a fixed
maximum. in cases where no application
for insurance was made. the additions
compensation varies from $50 for mother
less dependent child to maximum O.
SIS for all dependents.
$25 a MONTH WILL BE PAID.
The insurance of S25 a month will b,
paid under the section Of the law pro
vding for automatic insurance of al
American soldiers. sailors and marines
without application. for 100 days afte
the publication of regulations providing
for the issuance of policies. These regu
lations were published early in Octobe
and the time limit prescribed by law will
not expire until February IL next.
Approximately 20 persons went dow
with the Antilles. What percentage O
this total is affected by the law at pres
ent is unknown. but will be determine
upon receipt of advices establishing tn
identity of those who pershed TIL
number of soldiers has been establishe
definitely at 16, but the status of man
of the remaining dead is yet unknown (
officials here. How many of the re
mainder are sailors in the naval servic
also has to be determined.
Not only will the families of the dea
receive insurance and compensat ton undo
the law, but those who were injured
any. while in the military or naval servic
also will share in it's provisions for II
IDENTITIES.
SHOULD SPUR BOND SALE.
Application of the new law to Il
Antilles the first case where any lart
number of casualties was involved, w;
pointed to tonight by treasury ofiicia
as one of the many vital reasons WI
all persons who can should buy Liber
bonds.
1.-THE money 10 pay both compensate,
and Insurance." it was stated, sis e
pected to come In large measure fro
the sale of bonds Of the second Liber
Loan"