The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1918-02-07
GREAT AMERICAN TROOP SHIP TUCAA WITH 29 YOUNG SOLDIERS ABOARD
SUNK BY DEADLY GERMAN SUBMARINE BUT MOST Of THE MEN ARE SAVED
LONDONhe of life at
information
subsequently confirmed by
off n-pces
a


Tile state department issued this state
ment:
1.-THE latest advices received by the
state department from the embassy at
London regarding the Tuscania is that
at II p. M, February 6, the latest in
formation was 1912 officers and men
on the Tuscania were accounted for
out of 2173.
"The ambassador has sent an assist
ant military attache and another army
officer to Belfast, Ireland. Represent
atives of the American Red Cross and
the Y. M. G. A. also have me, with
full power to spend all the money
needed and authorizations from the
British Red Cross to use their equip
ment at Belfast. The ambassador
1urtner reports that the lord mayor
If belfast is giving all the aid possi-
ble.''
German Attempts Anticipated
,Hhc Tuscania was The first ship
'arrying American troops to Europe to
be sunk by German submarines, but
the American transport Antilles was
t0rpedoed and sunk in the war zone
while returning to the United States
from France and ID soldiers were lost
with 1876 other persons, including sew
eral members of the naval armed
guard.
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 Amer
Jean troops to Europe.
Fear of Concerted Attack
Recently the navy department has
feared that the Germans would make
a concentrated effort to intercept
the recall of many of the
submarines to their bases being inter
preted as preliminary to such cam
paign.
The position of the Tuscania when |
she was sunk is taken to indicate that
she was bound to England. Her sink
ng definitely discloses that British
;hjrs are being used to carry Ameri-
,an troops abroad, supplementjng Am
,rican transport tonnage. This fact
las been intimated bctorc and prob
lDly arises from the decision of the
supreme war council to make every
fort to augment General Pelshing's
rmy during the present year.
Ample Life Saving Equipment
Navy officials have insisted that, de-
pite the most careful plans and CT
orts to safeguard the transports
| ere was always a chance that
roop ship would stumble upon lurk-
ng submarine and the general belief
7as that this is what happened in this
ase. :
The same regulations as to life sa-
lg apparatus govern the movement
f American troop on British vessel
s would govern their passage on an
me1ican craft Those regulations
rhich are rigidly enforced, provide for
life boats and life raft ca
aci:y for every man aboard the ship,
ven if one-half. of the boats are rem
cred useless through the listing OF
,c ship when she is struck.
Was Fine Vessel
The Tuscania was a British passen-
IL end freight steamship of 1913
III, gross register. She. was built at I
lasnow in 1914 The last report oi
e Tuscania waas her arrival at an
tlantjc port, January II last.
The Tuscania was 567 feet long with
eG-foot beam and was equipped to
TRY $500 passengers in cabin and
eerage accommodation The ship
ID twin screws and speed of about
knots. On several occasions since
G war began she wa, the object of
rpedo attack, but managed to es- I
pc through her speed, assisted by j
fenSe guns. t
Land Near Londonderry a
at which the surviv-
) were landed, is on the northern
asst of Ireland, IL miles from Lon t
nderry. S
Larne, where other survivors were "
lded, is 23 miles from Belfast. 1t v
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