New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-20


however. that the facts Of the three
ciiiccrs killed being engineers and INC
torpedo hitting abreast the engine room
bulkhcad would indicate that most oil
the deaths were caused by the cNnlo-
sion Of the torpedo. * may have been,
also, that the vessel was torpedoed
either late IN the evening or, more
likely. early in the morning. when many
Of the crew and passengers were below
II is further pointed out that the YES.
sci sank in five minutes. which would
make il exceedingly difficult. II not i'm
possible, TO handle sick cases below
decks.
Naval officers say that it is practi-
cally impossible TO guard transports
against submarine which rs not
sighted, as in the case OF the Antilles.
A submarine running submerged, with
only its periScope above water, hap
pening upon a transport. would have
no difficulty in doing its work without
detection If not compelled TO man@uvre
for position.
For this reason, naval officers say
that the American people must steel
themselves TO the receipt of news OF
the sinking Of transports, even when
carrying troops Every precaution pos
sible will be taken TO prevent such dis
asters, but the transportation OF the
entire army without such losses would
be regarded as little short of miracu-
lous.
There will be a searching inquiry
into the causes of the Antilles disRs-
ter to determine whether the navy was
at fault in the character and operation
Of the convoy furnished. IL is assumed
that Admiral Sims already has ordered
such a court of inquiry. Naval officers
say, however. that it is unlikely there
will be disclosed any ground for ques..
tioning the vigilance of the officers OF
the convoy.
Upon receipt of the cable message
from Admiral Sims. the government
kept its promise not to withhold bad
news from the public. The issuance
of the statement was delayed only
until the navy could telegraph 20 the
families OF the men known TO have
been lost
Secretary Daniels carried word OF
the loss OF the Antilles TO the White
House when he went there late in the
day with Admiral Mayo. who made his
report to President Wilson on his visit
TO England at the direction of the
President. The news added TO the
gravity Of the hour that the Secretary
and Admiral Mayo spent in conference
with the President.
Boats for All, Is Rule
officials are confident that those who
survived owe their lives 10 the careful
attention given by the Navy Depart
ment to the equipping of transports
with lifeboats and life RATS. IL IS a
L. hot
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.
Lacking details of the attack, beyond
the fact that the submarine was UNI
seen end the first warning to those
aboard the Antilles came with the shock
of the explosion OF the torpedo, many
theories were current as to how the
U-boat crept through the destroyer
screen, did its work and escaped un-
challenged.
A majority OF the officers who would
comment thought the transport and her
convoying patrols had run directly over
q lurking submarine which saw them
coming, calculated the distance and
launched her torpedo without ever
showing more than her periscope;. Ihey
regard il as probable that the U-nost
commander picked his place, lay In wait
below the surface until his micro
phones told him the patrols had passed
ind the transport was upon HIM, tneh
shot his periscope above water only
long enough 10 sight and fire before he
ducked back to safety.
Survivors Believed Safe Ashore
An attempt TO locate the submarine |
probablv was made impossible by the
necessity Of rescuing the survivors
Tho survivors are believed 70 be al
ready safe ashore somewhere in France
or England. -.
So far as known, no high officers OF
tho army or navy were due 20 return
on the Antilles. There is no definite
information on that point, however. as
only General Pershing knows who was
sent home on the ship. The reports so
far received show merely that num-
Der of army officers and thirty-three
enlisted men of the army were ABOARD
Evidently Admiral Sims rushed ms
things of before he communicated
with General Pershing.
The loss Of the Antilles marks the
first reduction Of the transport meet
that has been operating. The unsuc-
cessful attack on the first contingent
is the only recorded previous instance
where the U-boats have succeeded even
in catching sight of the vessels.
The Antilles was withdrawn from
the coastwise trade temporarily in Sep
TENDER, 1914. TO make trip to Genoa
Italy, to bring home about 400 Amer
leans who had been stranded in Europe
by the war. The party modified at
Genoa under the leadership of l.. r.
Loree, president Of the Delaware &
Hudson Railroad Company, to await
the arrival OF an American vessel. The
Antilles sailed from Genoa on Sep
TENDER ~, under command OF Captain
Boyd, and arrived in New York on Sep
| TENDER 26.