The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-02-08
113 US. SOLDIERS
LOST on SHIP
TOrD9doGd Transport Was Carry
Ing PISS Americans.
ATTACKED TUESDAY Evening
Vessel Remained Afoat Two Hours
After Being struck-Three Men
Died From Exposure in One Boat.

Washington, Feb. S.-Latest official
reports to the war department show
that 1l3 American troops are still
missing from the transport Tuscania,
Drpedoed and sunk by a German
submarine.
TIE following Official statement
was ISSUED by Secretary OF War
Baker:
--latest informant On TeceiNcd by the
department. as 20 The number OF sur
vivors from the Tus~a-ia at present
landed at various N3in : as 2tt3 Amer
lean soldiers and Iii members OF the
crew and passengers.
The total number OF pe~s rs on
board the vessel at the time it was
attacked was 2l56 American soldiers
and 241 members Of the crew and pas
sengers.
The total still to he accounted for
is 113 American sold;crs and ninety
seven of the crew md passengers
The war department has received
the names Of only twenty eigf Of the
2O43 American soldiers now reported
to have been rescued.
Neither the navy nor war depart
ments had any confirmation of the
report that conveying destroyers sunk
the U-boat that sent the Tuscania to
her grave.
II was persistentlv reported with
out official confirmation that on the
day before the Tust"mia was sunk an
American merchant ship was torpe-
doed and sent to the bottom almost
exactly in the place where the trans
port was attacked. No lives were
lost. it is understood.
It was officially confirmed at the
navy department that the Tuscania
was not only a British transport as
signed to the transport of American
forces. but that she was under the
control and convoy Of Brit
ish destroyers from the time she left
Halifax until Sc reached the other
side. Absence of fuller details was
nerve raGkin@ 10 officials Of the navy
and war de0artmcnrs. Secretary Of
information came in 2 despatch from
General Pershirg in France, who, in
turn. had received information from
London.
The Tuscania was torpedoed Tues
day evenirg and remained afoat two
hours after being struck This gave
time for the removal of all those on
board
The Tuscania was one of a convoy
of troop and provision ships, which
after a long voyage across the ATTAIN
tic, was entering what until recently
were considered comparatively safe
waters. The ships were within sight
of land, which was just distinguish
able in the dusk OF evening Wkenaa
torpedo tte hit srs:
This was at about Seven o'clock
The steamship took a heavy list,
which made proper lowering of the
boats impracticable. Some men jump
ed into the sea. Others were thrown
into the water when the boats were
lowered
Three men died from exposure in
one boat
Some American soldiers were in the
water two hours before being rescu-
ed. They had cast off their clothing.
At one point there are $50 survi-
vors, eight Of whom are in hospital.
At another point there are 1850 sur
vivors, eighty of them in hospitals.
Many have been landed at Scottish
port.
Women volunteer nurses at Larne,
Ireland. attended TO slightly injured
men Wards were improvised in ho
tels. The resources of Larne were
taxed t. the uttermost to provide food
and clothing for the survivors.
One Of the men. who swan for two
hours before ne was rescued, tokingly
said he had had encugh swimming to
satisfy him for the remainder of his
lie.
OFcials Of the amy and navy still
err ertain bones t ct there will be
other survivors. = ON I'll, number
already saved nav men are convinced
th2t the conveying destroye-s were
close at hand when the attack oc-
Cured and closed in without a mo
ment's decay.
Captain Pringle Quoted British ad
m'ralty officers as STATING that the
Tuscania remained afoat severa
hours and this fact. too. contributed
in great measure to the effective
work
Finally. it was said, the spot at
which the attack occurred was close
enough inshore for British patrol yes
sells and trawlers to give quick re-
Spouse to calls for aid
Civilian officials of the navy de-
pa~tment were inclined to the belief
that the reports Of an American ship
sunk in the same neighbOrho0d on the
day before the transport met its fate
have to do with the American steem-
shin Alamance. which il wSg officially
announced was torpedOed and sunk
in foreign waters" on February s.
Six members Of the crew of this yes
sci, al! fOreigners, are missing. Al
the naval armed guard and all the
Americans in tre merchant crew wcre
saved.
Tive Official rnr~rt IN tho war Il
.o-tnen. ~'r'r~ ho erst 'i;t Of SUI
vTvors whose names mad Deer e=ve.
tanned, said that the British authori
ties had telegraphe1 their commands
in S.o.land and Ireland to afford
every possible assistance and to sup
ply survivors with fresh clothing ami
other comforts.
Officers" it was said in the re
port, have been despatched from
Liverpool and Glasgow and London to
points in Ireland where survivors now
are, and they will wire names imme,
diately. American consul at Belfast
reports COO survivors at Larne. As
soon as they are properly outftted
they will be brought to Winchester"
The list of units on the Tuscania
as made public by the adiutant gen,
erals Office is as follows:
1G71h eneinCer train.
1871 military police.
10Tth Cl,Dr,7y train