The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-02-07
TRANSPORT SUNK
(Contiraed from First Page0

United States Atlantic port on octo-
Der 10, 1917 It is presumed that
since that time She had been eTa-
ployed in transporting American
troops to Europe.
It was announced that the Tus-
cania was manned by British sailors,
with 4 British naval guard and was
conveyed by British warshtps.
The President was at the theater
when the news was received, and he
was not told until he returned to the
White House. In tho meantime the
War, Navy and State Departments
had sent urgent messages by wire
less and cable, instructing their
representatives in England and Ire-
land to forward every available fact
L immediately.
Because Of tho nature Of the MIL
itary organizations carried by the
ship, the War Department announc-
ed that 1t would DO impossible to
say definitely what troops were
aboard until the list of survivors
was received Later, however, the
adjutaut generals office made the
list public. All the soldiers are
former Wisconsin and Michigan
Guardsmeu, exceupt those In the
aero squadron, who probably were
recruited from ell parts of the coun-
try.
Neither the dispatch to the War
Department nor that to the State
Department referred to the fate OF
the members Of the Tuscanla's
crew. Undoubtedly many OF them
were saved, and when all reports
are In, the officials hope that the
loss of Life Will be remarkably
small. Tho Liner, which is not
regular transport, was under con-
voy, and the warships apparently
were quickly alongside for rescue
work when tho torpedo struck
Tho State Departments dispatch
gave the number Of soldiers on
board as airs. six less than the
War Departments report. It told Of
plans promptly made for caring for
the survivors. The state Depart
ment issued this statement;
1.-THE latest advtces received by
the state department from the ON
bassy at London, regarding tho
Tuscanla Is that ct II p. NJ, Feb
ruary 6, the latest information was
that l., GIG officers and men on the
Tuscania were accounted for, out Of
airs.
"The ambassador has sent an as
sistant military. attache, and IN
other army officer to Belfast. Rep
resentatives Of the American Red
Cross and the Y. NJ. c. A. also have
gone, with full power to spend all
the money needed and authorizations
from the British Red Cross to use
their equipment at Belfast. The
ambassador further reports that the
lord mayor ct Belfast is giving all
the aid possible"
The Tuscania was the first ship
carrying American troops to Europe
to be sunk by German submarines,
but the American transport Antilles
was torpedoed and sunk in the war
zone while returning to the United
States from France, and IA soldiers
were lost, with l56 other persons,
including several members Of the
naval armed guard.
American warships conveying
transports to France last juno twice
fought on submarine attacks. Since
then, however, there has been no re-
port Of an attack on a ship carrying
American troops to Europe.
Recently the navy department has
feared that the Germans would make
a concertde effort to intercept trans
ports, the recall Of many Of the sub
marines to their bases being inter-
preted as preliminary to such CAM
paign.
The position of the TuscanIa
when She was sunk Is taken to In
dictate that she was bound to Eng
land. Her sinking definite Hscloses
that British ships are being used to
carry American troops abroad, sup
plenentng American transport ton
mage. This fact has been inttmated
before and probably arises from the
decision Of the supreme wax council
to make every effort to augment
General PershnS's army during the
presetn year.
Navy officials have insisted that
despite the most careful plans and
efforts to safeguard transports,
there was always n chance that q
troop ship would stumble upon n
lurking submarine, and the general
belief was that this Is what had hap
pened In this case.
The same regulations as to Life
saving apparatus govern the move
nent 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 ev-
cry man aboard the ship, even II
ore-half o. the boats nre rendered
useless through tho listing of the