Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-02-07
210 MEN LOST
ON TORPEDOED
TROOP SHIP

missing list was reduced from In eX.
cess of Loco 10 less than SEQ during
the night. gave courage to those who
believed that others yet will be re-.
ported saved
The Official reports OF the units on
the Tuscanta. former Cunarder turned
over to the United States by the Brit
iSh government for use as a transport
was as follows:
The 10Th Engineer Train.
The 10Th Military Police.
The 10Th Supply Train.
Aero Squadron No. 100.
Areo Squadron No. $50.
Aero Squadron No. 2t3.
displacement Detaehments Nos.
and 2, Of the 39th Division.
Fhtyone officers unattached, en-.
route to report in France.
In addition there was on board the
headquarters detachment and COM
pan'es o. and :, Of the 10Th En-
gineers.
The io1th Engineers was composed
Of the first battalion of Michigan en-.
rincors.
The lo7th Military Police was made
M from the Fourth and Sixth Wis
consin infantry.
The lO7th Supply Train IRON the
Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Wisconsin in.
iantry.
All of the conAngents on board OF
the Tuscania were the 32nd National
Guard division. except the 18th Engin-
GERS and the aero sQuadrons
Officials remained on duty AT the
War Department during the night
waiting for the additional details
called for by Secretary of War Baker
II vas stated that these reports would
be made public only after they had
been submitted to the secretary In
this connection it was explained that
tho department was endeayornc to
list the survivors as rapidly as pos.
siblc and with this object in Wow it
has sent special representatives to
Eoncarnc and tarne, in ireland. where
tho survivors have been landed Tn
til tlis can be done. il is stated. il
will be impossible to toll the exact
CT ualtics
II naturally is supposed that as
soon as word WAS received that an
attack had been made. the American
regular bases, were shot to sea 10 as
sist in the rescue work.
Whether there was any battle be-
tween the destroyer convoy and the
U-boat had not been made public by
either the War Department or the
Navy Department early today, II was
hoped that when the facts are re.
cciyed. It will be shown that the de-
stroyers were able to reply to the
attack
However. officials were mos, con.
cerned today in getting the list Of the
missing. 1t was felt that the greatest
good could he done by securing this
list SO that the thousands Of relatives
OF the saved could be reasured.
Washington vas decidedly a
changed city today. The succossful
attack on the transport had brought
sternly home for the first time the
great danger that marks the trans.
portaton Of troops overseas. It also
had served TO end for all time the ar.
gumentS OF the many persons who
have been declaring that Germany
was not planning ruthless warfare on
the United States.
The loss Of the Tuscana. officials
pointed out has confirmed fully the
announcement by Secretary Of War
Baker that the German military com.
mand had planned concentrated at
tack directed against the American
transports in an effort to prevent the
American troops getting to France in
time for taking active part in the
spring drive.
II had been accepted hat trans
ports would be attacked but there Was
n strong hope entertained that the
protection plans of the Navy Depart
mont would chcckmatc the German
efforts.
And. while there was the deepest re
Srct over the apparent loss Of life ir
this initial sinking Of a transport
officials pointed out that the large
number Of saved was an eloquent trib
ulc OF the effective measures that haC
been planned for such attacks.
Until the complete story of the at
tack reaches Washington. officials die
not care to comment on the oiilcac,
of the convoy. 1t was accepted. o.
course. that the navy had done it,
full part and that the Germans hat
managed TO get transport vas ac
copied as simply one Of the fortunes
Of war.
Already Secretary Baker has let /
be known that the United States ha,
transferred overseas more troops thar
Canada has sent during the entir,
period OF the war, and II can hardl,
be expected that the enormous vol
ulne Of shipping now on the seas cal
keep making the trips with perfec
immunity.