New-York tribune., 1918-05-25
Men Asleep When Foe
Strikes and Survivors
Are Rescued by the
Escorting Ships
Vessel Attacked on
Route to France
Soldiers Unaccounted
For Thought Trapped
ON Lower Deck by
Explosion

AO4SAO4N, way N9.- uC bIltiSIi
armed merchant troopship Mol
davia, with American troops on
board, has been torpedoed and sunk,
according to an official bulletin is
sued by the Admiralty this evening.
Fifty-six American soldiers are un-
accounted for and probably were
killed inside the ship by the explo-
sion.
The text of the Admiralty state
ment follows:
"The armed mercantile cruiser
Moldavia was torpedoed and sunk
yesterday morning.
"There were no casualties
among the crew, but of the Amer
ican troops on board fifty-six up
to the present have not been ac-
counted for. 1t is feared they
were killed in one compartment
by the explosion.
The Moldavia was torpedoed
without warning. 1t was a moon
light night, and although a good
lookout was kept, the attacking sub
marine was not sighted before the
torpedo struck.
Most of the men aboard were in
their hammocks when the explosion
occurred amidships. The sailors and
soldiers alike showed no panic.
They fell calmly into line and
awaited orders. When it was seen
that the Moldavia was settling down
all on board were taken off by the
escorting ships.
The men lost all of their belong
ings, but were supplied with new
clothing at the different naval ports
where they were taken.
1t is believed that the American
soldiers missing from the Moldavia
were sleeping on the bottom deck,
and were overtaken by the great in
rush of water after the explosion.
when they were trying to reach the
main deck. 1t is also presumed that
some of the ladders were DESTROYED.
The vessel was struck below the
bridge. She steamed ahead for some
time after being struck, and at first
it was hoped that her watertight
compartments would enable her to
reach port.
Survivors agree that the Moldavia
was torpedoed and not mined.
I'VE were proceeding up the chan-
nel' bound for an English port, early
Thursday morning." said a seaman.
The weather was fine and there WAS
a bright moonlight. We felt an ex :
plosion amidships. The ship had been
struck just below the bridge, but we
could see no submarine
There were some destroyers cor
voying. US and they at once scattered
around IN search of the submarine.
Only one torpedo was fred.
When 1T was realized that we should
have to abandon the vessel. the do
stroyers came alongside to take off the
troops"
The Moldavia was of $500 tons gross
anu WAS owned by the Peninsular e.
oriental Steam Navigation Company.
WASHINGTON, May 24.-sinkine Of
the British armed merchant cruiser
Moldaiva, with a probable loss of
iifty-six American soldiers. was an
nounced in cablegram tonight from
the British Admiralty to the War De-
partment. No details were given. but
the understanding here is that the shin
was moving between England and
/ France.
The War Department authorized this
statement:
Information has been received from
London that the British armed mer.
chant cruiser Moldavia has been sunk
and that ffty-six of the American sol
diers aboard are missing. The an
nouncement was made by the British
Admiralty"
At late hour the Department. had
no further information to indicate
what American units were on board
the vessel. Many men are in traininy
in England, and it is possible that the
Moldavia was carrying a contingent
bound for the front.
The Moldavia is the third transnor.
carrying American troops to be fo,.
pedoed. and the fifteenth troopsh n
sunk by tho Germans. or the ynsse,,
carrying Americans the Antilles wa