Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-02-15
Attacks Fought Off.


American warships conveying trans
ports to France last June twice fought
off submarine attacks. Since then,
however, there has been no report OF
an attack on ship carrying American
troops to Europe.
Recently tn eNavy Department has
feared that the Germans would make
a concerted effort to intercept trans
ports, the recall of many of the sub
marines to their bases being inter-
preted as preliminary to such a cam
paign.
The position of the Tuscania when
she was sunk Is taken to indiacte that
she was bound to England. Her sink
ing definitely discloses that British
ships are being used to carry Amer
lean troops abroad, supplementing
American transport tonnage. This
fact has been intimated before and
probably arises from the decision of
the Supreme War Council to make
every effort to augment General Perish
ing's Army during the present year.
Accidents Unavoidable.
Naval officials have insisted that
despite the most careful plans and
efforts to safeguard transports, there
was always a chance that troop ship
would stumble upon lurking sub
marine and the general belief was
that this is what had happened In this
case.
The same regulations as to life-sav-
ing apparatus govern the movement
of American troops on British vessel
as would govern their passage on an
American craft.
Those regulations, which are rigidly
enforced provide for sufficient life
boats and life raft capacity for every
man aboard the ship, even If one]half
Of the boats are rendered useless
through the listing of the ship when
she is struck.
First Transport Lost.
Although prior to January 1 of the
present year there were more than
100000 American troops In France,
according to the statement made by
Secretary of War Baker, the Tuscania
was the first transport to be torpe-
doed on the voyage from an American
port to France. Several American
transports, however, have been torpe-
doed on the return journey, after hav-
ing debarked troops.
When the Tuscania was first put
into. service her apartments for first
cabin passengers, of whom she could
carry $50, were sumptuous. The
paneling of her main lounger room
was in olive wood, inlaid with line
of sycamore. The floors were of pol
ished oak.
A veranda, cafe and gymnasium
smoking rooms, dining saloons and
novel system of heating and ven
tilation were features Of the new liner.
The first and second class state rooms
were situated on the bridge deck and
shelter deck amidships and were large
in size and well furnished.
1t is probable, however, in view
of the exigencies Of the situation that
the steamer had been stripped Of most
of her luxurious fittings in order to
take as great a number of troops as
possible on each voyage.
On Irish Coast.
Buncranna, at which survivors from
the Tuscania were landed, Is located
on Lough Swilly, on the Northern
Coast of Ireland, IL miles from Lon
donderry. Lough Swilly is long, mar
row bay running in from the Atlantic
Ocean.
Larne, where other survivors were
landed from the vessel is on the
Northeast coast of Ireland, % miles
from Belfast 1t is a North Channel
port The approximate distance by
water between the two ports Is 100
miles.