New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-09
Overt Act' He Barred AL,
ready Has Occurred,
London Believes
CALIFORNIA HELD
AS JUSTIFICATION
Torpedoed Without Warn
ing and Sunk in 9 Min
utes41 Lives Lost
by Cable 20 The Tribune.

Lonon, Feb. 8.-The news OF the tor
pedong of the California, whose pub
LEGATION the censor is now permitting
leaves little doubt IN the minds OF
Englishmen that Germany has flung
back in President Wilson's face his
final warning. On all sides it is taken
for granted here that the overt act has
been committed. Aboard the vessel,
but fortunately saved, was at least one
American citizen, John A. Lee. of Mont
gomery, Ala.
Complete reports show that the Cal
ifornia was torpedoed at 9 o'clock on
Wednesday morning off the Irish coast
and sank in Q minutes, with the loss
of forty-one lives. The stricken ship
was able to send out S. o. S. calls and
help arrived promptly. Nevertheless,
four persons were killed by the ex-
plosion and thirty-seven were drowned.
Thirteen Of the dead were passengers
six women, five children and two men.
Ships Death List
The death list. based on the passen-
ger list and that of the known sur
vivors follows:
SECOND CABIN
Anderson, J. W. Vancouver, B. c.
Anderson, Master W. c. Vancouver,
B. {.
Gillies, Neil, Glasgow.
Kidd, Mrs. j.. Calgary. Alberta.
0Donnell, Mrs. Mary c., Philadelphia.
ODonnell, Miss Mary, Philadelphia.
ODonnell Master James, Philadelphia
Roberts. Miss Madge, Toronto, Ont.
Smith, Mrs. A.. Calgary, Alberta.
Smith. Miss Edna -four years old,
Calgary, Alberta.
THIRD CLASS
Forbes, Miss Annie, Toronto.
Little, Mrs. Margaret, 525 Brook Ave-
nue., New York City.
Little. Master John, 525 Brook Avenue,
New York City.
The news Of the sinking of the Cali
fornia reached London yesterday after
noon. before the survivors had yet ar
rived on land, but publication was not
permitted until to-day.
No unusual incident attended the,
crime. According to the passengers
stories the ship was proceeding
through calm sea in good weather
Wednesday morning when sudden,
terrific shock hurled the passengers
and crew in all directions. A few mo-
ments later a tremendous explosion
seemed to lift the ship out of the
water. Seven minutes later she sank
Two Submarines Seen
All the survivors agree that no
warning was given, while the sailors
say that submarine was seen on
either side of the vessel and that es-
cane was impossible. The explosion
KILLED three sailors and four passen-
gers. while twenty-eight sailors and
thirteen passengers reported as miss
ing are now given up as lost. =.
Fortunately the lifeboat drill had
been practiced and each passenger had
been assigned to particular liiepoal'
Consequently there was complete aD'
sence Of panic, the passengers taking
10 their own boats as soon as the orders
we're given and all keeping their heads
splenddly. A few of the less active
passengers fell into the water, but so
far as is know all these were rescued.
Despite the GOODNESS of the passen-
gers and the seamanship of the crew,
the successful launching Of the boats
was made impossible by the shortness
of the time between torpedoing OF the
vessel and her disappearance beneath
the waves, which did not permit walt
ing until the ship had lost Roadway. =,
While the boats were being lowered
from the sloping decks the California
continued to move forward, lurching
like drunken man. and the roar of
the water rushing through the gaping
wound in her side could be heard above
the shouts of officers and men. In a
number Of cases it was necessary for
the passengers to jump into the boats
after they were in the water; and in
one case boat with its apportioned
load was swamped and sank, many Of