New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-21
u. to Increase
Size of Convoy
For Transports
Navy May Take Full Charge
of Troopships as Result
of Antilles Loss
ISo< -isl Co-respondsncel


creased destroyer conveys for Ameri-
can troop carrying transports will be
provided as a result Of Americas first
serious war loss, the sinking OF the
Antilles with the death Of seventy
Americans aboard.
Although the Antilles was conveyed.
il had no such convoy as the troop
laden transports en- route to Europe
have had through the var zone. The
first step will be to increase the con-
voy Of homebound transports. Al the
same time additional vessels will be
detailed to guard the outward bound
vessels, not only in the prescribed war
zone, but further into mid-Atiantic.
Newark. \. j.. Man Killed
4 correction received by the Navy
Department to-day in the original cable
Of the disaster brought Joy % one
Amsr rican family and grief to another,
revealing that E. L. Kinney, reported
lost yesterday, had been saved, and
that Seaman /. C. Mckinney was lost.
Tne department to-day Authorized the
following:
I'm cabling tic list o. casualties in
the sinking OF The army transport An
titles, the name Of Z. l.. Kinney, sea-
man, second class next OF kin Thomas
". Kinney, father, Water Valley.
Mss. was sent as one OF those lost.
A dispatch received to-day announced
that Kinzcy was saved and that j. c.
Mckinney, seaman. second class, wa 5
lost. His next Of kin is A. l.. McKir-
ney. father, i2C Pennington Street,
Newark. y. J.
nc further details Of the sinking
of the transport have been received"
Secretary Daniels said to-day a
court of inquiry would be convened to
investigate the loss of the Antilles
and TO establish all facts connected
with the sinking. This is the usua'
navy practice. and will not be depart
ed from. though this was an engage.
ment and not all accident at sea.
The navy remained in the dark to-
day as 10 the details of the Antilles
sinking. There was only ViceAdmira
Sms's preliminary report. This re-
port vas given 10 the public. with the
exception OF the location OF the trag'
cdy, which was withheld. II was only
said the Antilles was sunk in the war
zone. 1t was assumed the survivors
we're landed on the other side, but
this was not officially reported.
Heaviest Loss IN Engine Room
The fact that all ting commissioned
army and navy personnel on board
were saved and that losses we're con-
fined to army and navy enlisted men
and the Antilles crew was explained b.
the conjecture that the heaviest loss
es we've in the engine and fire rooms
due 10 explosion when the ship broke
in two and sank almost Immediately
Admiral Sims is expected to clear TINS
up in later reports.
The loss of the Antilles has raised
the question Of civilian versus naya
crews for army transports and othel
ships travcrsing the war zones in th'
public service of the United States. L
was said at the Navy Department TO
dav that the Antilles was manned by
a civilian crew, and that the captain
also was a civilian. although the armeC
guard was furnished BY the navy.
The fact that no submarine was seen
a circumstance which may recur a
any moment, emphasized the impor
tsnce. i'm the minds of some experts. o.
having naval crews on all vessels serv
ing tie army and the navy. A civilian
skipper. II was explained, has haC
drilled into him the saving Of coal
whereas one of the most necessar,
/ things in The defence Of merchan
craft is the speed of the ships. Th'
merchant skipper is accustomed Z
steaming III the strsightest line be
tween destinations. but in tact:ca
movements Of ships 20 elude subms
rines II is necessary 10 follow zigza,
courses.
Merchant Captains Lack Control
1t was stated also that morchan
captains lack the disciplinary contro
over the members of their crew tha
a naval officer would enjoy If the crew
belonged to the public forces of tn
country.
at is humanity and militarily impos
sibe TO guard against danger whicl
is unheard and unseen" said higl
ranking naval expert to-day. "Of course
there are some devices for detecting
the presence of submarines. We hav
them and have been working for thei
improvement for a long time. Grea
Britain and France also have them an
are working to perfect them so as {
make them at all times accurate.
cannot now be said such devices ar
accurate or dependable beyond yer
limited ranges. If at all.
But progress is being made wit
such devices, and one of these day
some genius will supply the missin
link and give us instruments which wi
accurately indicate the presence of sub
aripae -