New-York tribune., 1918-05-26
No Officers Among the
Missing; Survivors at
British Port
Troops Laughing
When in Boats
Discipline Splendid, Says
u. S. Captain; U-Boat
Not Sighted

LONDON, May 25.-With the excep-
ton of ffty-three American soldiers,
\ oil the persons on board the British
Nrocpship Moldavia, which was torpe-
&ed and sunk Thursday morning, were
s&ed and have been landed at a south
~ British port. No officers names
are among the list Of missing and it
4 contains the names OF only two non
commissioned officers
Less than quarter of an hour after
the Moldavia had been torpedoed off
the southeast coast of England on
Thursday morning, virtually every man
had gone over the sides of the vessel
into the lifeboats.
Edwin and Clyde Bosley, of North
Troy, VT, leaped from the deck and
we're drowned. Had it not been for
this the losses would have been con-
fined to those killed by the explosion
Of the torpedo.
Thought Ship Was Turning Over
The Bosley brothers were on guard
when the ship was struck. There was
q sharp list, and they evidently be-
lieved she was turning over. Search
was made for them, but they were not
seen after they jumped overheard
The Moldavia was moving forward
steadily on a smooth sea and was al
most within sight of its destination
when the torpedo crashed into the
boats side. The big vessel listed
sharply. Destroyers began rushing
alongside and fore and aft in an en-
deavor to find trace Of the submarine.
Although they prevented the U-boat
from reappearing, it is not known
whether hit was scored by the depth
charges, which were dropped in a circle
around the point from which the tor
pedo was sent.
Captain johnson, an American infan-
try officer. who was on board the Mol
davia, gave DAILY Telegraph" repre-
sentative this account of the sinking.
"Ihe ship was struck just forward
Of the engines on the port side. All
the troops were in their hunks Sleep
ing in their uniforms. There was a
loud explosion and then the ships
whistle was blown, which was a signal
for everybody to come on deck. The
men had been assigned to particular
boats, and boat drill had been held
every day during the voyage. The men
assembled In perfect order. Their dis
cpline was splendid, the best I ever
saw
Ship Righted and Ran On
"The Moldavia listed to port, but
righted herself and ran on for about
fifteen minutes, to avoid being hit
again.. Then she began to sink stead
lily. Orders were given to lower the
boats and RATS and we got off.
"Destroyers had been circling around
US all the time, and as soon as the
Moldavia was struck they dropped sew
eral depth charges. No second torpedo
was fired and we saw nothing of the
submarine. We remained in the life
boats until the ship sank, when we
we're taken on board the destroyers.
AS soon as the men got aboard the
boats and RATS they began laughing
and sl singing, and when the ship sank
tney gave three cheers"
Ihe Moldavia was off the southeast
coast when she was attacked, says the
correspondent of "The Daily Mail" at
southeast coast port. He quotes a
member of the crew as saying:
"A careful watch was kept, but a
submarine does not seem to have been
ngnted before the torpedo struck
Only half dozen men who were put
on on raft got so much as wetting,
ana they were saved"