New-York tribune., 1918-07-08
American Sailors
By Goodness Saved
Many ON Lincoln
Commander Relates Strik-
ing Incidents of Sinking
of Troopship
28 Fighting Men Lost
Officer ON Raft Sings "Where
Do We Go From
Here?"
28 Fighting Men Lost
Especial Dispatch to The Tribhnc)

(Spec1dI DlspGtCh to The Tribhnc)
WASHINGTON, July To the
coolness of the American sailors aboard
the transport President Lincoln when
she was sunk May 3 by an enemy sub
marine is due the small loss of life
caused by that disaster, according to
to an exhaustive report of the sinking
made public to-day by the Navy De-
partment.
Three officers and twenty-five en-
listed men were drowned and one naval
officer was taken prisoner by the sub
marine.
The report of the court of inquiry,
made public to-day by Secretary Dam
iels, said the sinking of the Lincoln
was "caused by an act of war on the
part of q German submarine, identity
unknown, and that no responsibility
therefore attaches to any officer or man
belonging to the U. S. S. Lincoln" and
further, "that the conduct of all officers
and men of the U. S. S. Lincoln and of
the two destroyers which went to the
rescue reflected credit on the United
States navy"
Commander Percy W Foote, COM
manding officer of the President Lin
coin, called on Secretary Daniels yes
terday and at the suggestion of the
Secretary related for publication some
of the most striking incidents in the
sinking Of the transport
"Three torpedocs were sighted ap-
preaching the ship on the port side
at a distance of from three to four
hundred yards away" said Commander
Foote. efforts were made to turn
the ship to avoid the torpedoes, but
there was not sufficient time to do so
and the two torpedoes struck together
practically in the same place. about
102 feet from the bow. One torpedo
struck about 120 feet from the stern.
Men Take Posts
"The call to battle stations was in
stantly sounded when the torpedoes
were sighted, and every one Went
quickly but quietly to his proper post.
"There were 715 persons on board,
including the officers and crew of the
ship and few army officers and SOL
diers returning from France. Among
the latter were two soldiers who were
paralyzed.
preparations were made for launch
ing the boats and life RATS, and the
guns were made ready for fire. In
spections were made below decks, and
it was found the bulkheads were hold
ing the water in the forward hold, but
aft the engine room bulkhead was
ruptured and the water entered the en-
CINE room. There was plenty Of time,
however, for the men to escape from
the engine and fire rooms, and no cas-
ualties occurred therein. Seven men
were killed by the force of the explo-
sion or the thrush of water.
"Fifteen minutes after the ship was
struck it appeared quite evident that
she would sink The boats and RATS
were placed in the water and the order
was given all hands to abandon ship.
This order did not include the gun
crews, however, who remained at their
guns awaiting further orders. A few
minutes later fire was opened from the
bow gun, firing in the general direction
in which 1t was thOuSht the submarine
might be, this being done with the idea
that It might prevent another possible
attack.
-Four or five minutes before the
ship finally sank, half the vessel be-
ing then under water, the chief master
at arms reported that his inspection
below decks showed all hands to be
out of the ship. The order was then
given for every one, including the gun
crews, to leave the ship, and the mas
ter at arms and then went into the
water and swan to a life raft.
Submarine Appears
"After the ship sank the work of
loading the boats to their capacity and
securing the RATS together was begun,
and while this work was under way,
about half an hour after the ship sank.
the submarine appeared ard came near
the boats and RATS
"The submarine first took one of the
sailors, Seaman Anderson, on board,
and then little later took one Of the
officers. Lieutenant +. Y. NJ. Isaacs.
after which it returned the seaman to