Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-02-13
SOLDIERS SING
AS TRANSPORT
IS GOING DOWN
Troops on Tuscania Sing "Star
SpangIed Banner"
OFFICER TELLS OF DISASTER
Declares British Destroyers Rushed TO
the Rescue Soon After Torpedo Hit
Liner-Number of Men Who
Leaped Overheard Are
Saved

attacked by a destroyer.
An American officer gave an init
nation that the submarine was de-
strOyed.
This officer was next to the last TO
leave the Tuscania. He gave a vivid
account of the disaster to CORE
spondent,
The second torpedo fired by the sub
marine missed its mark, he said.
Thereupon a destroyer, which was
near the sinking liner, dashed OFF to-
ward the submarine, using bomb
dropping device.
The claim is made that the sub
marine was done in" by the bombs
thus exploded.
When the Tuscania was hit the
American troops were lined up at at
tention. AS the transport showed a
sharp list the Americans, to a man,
began to sing MY Country. "Tis of
Thee" and THE Star-Spangled Ran
ner." The British crew. lined up on
the other side OF the ship. broke into
"GOr Save the King"
STOOD Like Soldiers"
The American officer said:
Everything went well with US dur
ing the voyage. Many of our men had
never been TO sea before. and l must
say they stood like soldiers.
I'VE We're one of a powerful con-
voy. must not tell you our position
in the convoy or how the various ships
were formed. but you may take it that
all the other boats have got through.
as far as 1 know.
As for ourselves, well. the Huns
succeeded in getting only fraction of
our fine fellows in addition TO our boat !;
but If they have Trey have put the
iron into our souls and we will be
ready to repay them when the chance
offers.
Monday was a wild night. Had
the disaster occurred during a gale
don't like to think OF what would have
happened But Tuesday evening was
calm.
Instantly Disabled"
THE first intimation we had of pos
stble danger was an order for all men
to 20 on deck with life-belts. Ii was
ebout I 80 O'Clock. AT the same time
we sharply altered our course. At six
o'clock just as the darkness was set
ting well in we got the blow. No
body saw the periscope nor could one
have been seen Wen. Some soldiers
described having heard kissing
sound Immediately before the torpedo
struck US IN he engine room.
I'VE were instantly disabled. All
the lights went out. An oruer rang
out sending the -roops to their boat
stations and to get the lifeboats out.
The shock was not severe, It was
more Of crunching-in feeling that
went through the ship than of a d.
rect blow.
There Was No Panic"
There naturally was a good deal of
confusion. You cannot lower a score
Of lifebOats from the height of an
upper deck IN the darkness without
some confusion, but at no time was
there a panic.
There was great excitement, how
ever, but it lasted only few min
ltes. Then all the men Pulled them
selves together. Megaphone calls
we're given all over the ship, sayiD
there was no danger that the vesse.
would float till all were taken off.
IN the meantime s. o. S. signals were
sent out.
Even before some of US had
grasped the situation British destroy
ers were dashing up alongside. Such
soldiers as had been lowered In life
boats were put on board destroyers.
A few men who jumped overheard in
the first excitement were picked up.
| believe one or two Ilfeboats were
smashed in launching.
THE destroyers took off our men
In splendid style. with perfect order.
"All this time the TuScania was
slowly sinking. For q minute | did
not know whether to go into life
boat or to stick by the ship. One of
the members Of the crew urged that
we stay on board and trust John
Bulls destrOyers. He yelled this in
my ear. took his advice and waited
for my turn to come to go on board a
destroyer
NO sooner had we cast OF. with 500
men on board. than n torpedo was
fred mt us II missed. Another de-
stroyer dashed off. operating n bomb
dropping device, and the claim was
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