Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1918-09-18

department duHOuuCeu oH WSuhN0N"'J
the receipt of a dispatch from Vice
Admiral Sims stating that British
liner carrying American troops was
torpedoed September s off the English
coast. All on board were saved.
London, Sept. 13.-An American
troopship with $500 men on board has
ben torpedoed All hands were saved.
The ship was beached.
(The United States navy depart
ment announced that the vessel was
the White Star liner Persic of l2,043
tons.)
In order to save time, instead OF
launching the boats the men clambered
down ropes to destroyers which sur
rounded the stricken vessel. The troop
shin was one of a large convoy ap-
preaching the English coast and was
about 200 miles out. The torpedolng
took place Friday at 3 p. M
There was no sign of panic on board.
Many of the troops were from Chicago
and Cleveland. No one was injured.
Several soldiers told the correspond
ent that they saw the submarine forced
clear out of the water after depth
bomb exploded 1t then disappeared.
Ship Was Tagging Behind.
Something had gone wrong with the
troopship's engines. which compelled
her for time TO lag behind the rest
of the convoy, but the trouble had been
fixed up and she was fast catching up
with the other transports when tor
pedo hit her just forward of the en-
CINE room.
The vessel at once began to sink by
the bow Many of the soldiers at the
time were taking baths. They did not
wait to dress, but made for the deck
with what little clothing they could
hastily lay their hands on. The wa
ter was rushing in at such a rate that
it was thought the steamer would
quickly founder.
In Rest Camp in England.
An Inland Rest Camp in England,
Sept. 12-The majority of the $500
American soldiers from the troopship,
which was torpedOed off the English
coast, but was not sunk, and upon
which there were no casualties, have
arrived here none the worse for their
thrilling experience.
The men are finding some consola-
ton for the loss of their vessel in
the assurance that the submarine that
attacked has suffered far worse fate
at the hands of the avenging destroy
ers, which were speedily on the scene
hunting the U-boat with depth charges.
To the surprise of most of the sol
diers, the troopship did not sink. Some
means apparently were found to check
the thrush of water and she got near
enough to the shore to be beached. It
is hoped that the vessel ultimately
can be salvaged.
To aid in caring for the men here
the American Red Cross rushed large
quantities of supplies from London.
Torpedo Kills 35 on U. S. Ship.
Washington Sept 9.-Thirty-tive
persons, principally members of the
freroom crew of the U. S. S. Mount
Vernon, formerly the German liner
Kronprinzessin Cecille, were killed
when the ship was struck by torpedo
Thursday last, 200 miles off the French
coast, it was announced on Sunday by
the navy department.
Lewis Aids Wounded.
Paris, Sept. Ex-senator Lewis Of
Illinois, who was among the passen-
gers on the American transport Mount
Vernon, all of whom were saved, is
suffering from a chill resulting from
exposure while carrying wounded men
from their hunks. Congressman
Thomas D. Schall and Attorney John
Cross of Providence, r. l., were among
those on board. Mrs. Schall, the wife
of the blind representative from Min
nesota led her husband up on deck
and across the ship to their lifeboat
Both were calm and acted as though
there was no peril.