The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-02-07
REGIMENT ON
TUSCANIA WAS
WORLDS BIGGEST
IN ADDITION TO TROOPS, THE
FORESTERS NUMBERED SEW
ENTEEN HUNDRED.

Washington, Feb. THE Twentieth
engineers foresters) on board the sunk.
en- Tuscania is the largest regiment in
the world, although only one battalion
was on the Tuscania. The aggregate
strength Of the regiment is 100 Of.
iicers and men. Some of the units are
still in training in camp near Wash.
Ington.
Col. W. A. Mitchell of the regular
| army, commands the regiment and
Henry S. Graves, chief forester Of the
United States department Of agricul.
ture. is lieutenant-colonel. Neither,
| however, was with the battalion on the
ruscania
The work Of the Twentieth regiment
which was raised with the active CO.
Jperation Of the American Forestry As
'ociation, is to cut timber in the French
forests for military uses at the fighting
front, for hospitals, Y. NJ. c. A. build,
ngs, and other purposes
1t was thought possible that surviv.
yrs of the British crew of the vessel.
not reported in war department ad-
vices, might account for the difference
| % figures as to the number Of missing.
Did 1t Strike Mine?
There was some speculation among
naval officers on the possibility that
he Tuscania might have struck a mine.
The indicated location of the disaster
S in a region not previously frequented
~ submarines. The official announce.
nents, however say that the ship was
orpedoed
II is doubtful that the Tuscania was
n a route usually followed by American
transports. As a British vessel under
British convoy the security of the Amer
can troops beyond question was en-
trusted to British handling. So far as
7Ow known, no American naval craft
shared in the task Probably numerous
| other transports or army supply vessels
were in the convoy.
The process of conveying has become
Utmost routine through practice in both
british and American navies.
DestrOycrS Were on Water.
\ screen Of destroyers or other swift
raft travels ahead of conveyed fleet.
'hc destroyers are spread out over a
considerable area.
1t is known that virtually all of the
| German u boats are equipped with
istening devices Of considerable dis.
Ince 50 the approach Of the destroyery
nay have become known to the L boa;
commander before the vessels them
selves were sighted. Fear Of depth
pombs would drive the l. boat below.
| 20 lurk motioness at some depth until
he sound of the destroyers' propellers
lad faded out showing that they had
asSed. The L boat probably would
ONE TO the surface then to explore.
Navy officials say that the one chance
gaiust which absolute precaution will
not guard is that the submarine will
come up in the path of the approach
ing transport, obtain a sight that will
permit her to train her torpedo tubes
by compass and again submerge. As
the listening devices show that ship
is within range, a torpedo could be
fired by the submarine while still sub.
merged. Sometimes under the laws of
chance it might find its mark, and this
may have happened with the TusCania
Glad Toll Not Larger.
While the loss indicated was fully ap.
preciatcd by officials here there was
general air Of relief about the war and
navy departments that the toll was not
larger The army will continue to go TO
Europe in the face Of submarines, the
government meanwhile bending every
energy to find additional means Of
checking the unaersea raiders.
Londonderry, Island Feb, Proof
of the order which prevailed on the
Tuscania is given by the landing of
two typhoid and two pneumonia cases
without bad effect.