Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-07
Torpedoing of Tuscania
Tuesday First U. S. Mis-
hap in Sending Men.
bulletin

loss of life on the Tuscania
late today is estimated at
l01. This total is given in
a dispatch from a cores
pondent of the Associated
Press in Ireland and SUBJ
sequently was confirmed
by the American en-
bassy.
At one point there were
$50 survivors, eight of
whom are in a hospital. At
another point there are
1850 survivors, 80 of
them in hospitals. A num-
Der of survivors i-cluding
the second officer of the
Tuscan;a were landed al
a Scottish port.
The majority of the
missing were members of
the crew.
Washington. Feb. 7.-TOrpedoed
and sunk by a German submarine.
the Cunard liner Tuscania, bear
Ing e.179 officers and men of the
Tbirty.secOnd National Guard di.
vision, lies at the bottom of the
North Atlantic ocean today and
at least 16S troOpers-probably
more-are missing.
On the basis of figures reported
to the war and state departments
here the missing would be 267;
the figures of the British admir-.
atty, as they stood early today.
however. placed the missing
American troopers ut 16S.
There is every hope that the lower
number will prove to be correct. Brit
ish conveys near to the torpedoed ship
closed in quickly and did heroic work
as the comparatively small number Of
losses show The position of the Tus
CANA off the north coast of Ireland
evidently headed for England. also
was such that numbers of British pa
troll ships and other vessels rushed tC
her side and in that way the losses
were minimiZed.
Stumbled on Sub, Belief.
Such reports as were at hand early
today gave no details of how the
transport, supposedly heavily con-
voyed, fell in with the submarine, but
II was regarded as more probable thai
the ship stumbled on the submersible
rather than that the disaster was the
hrst shot in the much advertised Ger
man offensive against the line OF
American troops and supplies.
1t was thought possible here that
survivors of the British crew OF the
vessel, not reported in war depart
ment advices might account for the
difference in figures as to the number
OF missing
Might Have Hit Mine.
There was some speculation among
naval officers on the possibility thai
the Tuscania might have struck
mine. The indicated location OF tht
disaster is in region not previously
irequented by submarines. But the
Text Of official announcements say the
ship was torpedoed and until detailec
accounts of the incidents are available
lot study there is nothing to justify
gong behind the formal statement.
II is doubtful that the Tuscanis
vas in a route usually followed by
american transports. AS a. British
vessel under British convoy, the Sc
curity OF the American troops beyond
question was entrusted to BRITISH
handling. SO far as now known, n
american naval craft shared in The
usk. Probably numerous other trans
ports or army supply vessels were II
he convoy.
Tuscania Still AflOat!
..he Tuscania must have remained
snoat for considerable time. Ru
mors were current today which coulf
not be traced to any source that She
was still afloat.
The process OF conveying has be
ccme almost routine through practic'
- both the British and American
nafes.
screen of destroyers or othe'
wit craft travels ahead OF con
dyed fleet. The destroyers are spread
wi over a considerable area. Ii II
Anowns that virtually all OF the Ger
nan U-boats are equipped with listen