The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-07-08
SINKING OF u s
ARMY TRANSPORT
is TOLD BY CHIEF
Official Report RepIete With In
stances of Bravery by ZIG
Men Aboard Lincoln.
LIVES SAVED BY DISCIPLINE
SignaIed Orders Obeyed When Escap-
Ing Steam Drowned Voices Of Off,
cers-Americans Leap Into
Sea and Swim to Boats

Washington, July 8.-The complete
and thrilling story Of the sinking of
the army transport President Lincoln
on May 81 was made public by the
navy department.
1t Is replete with heroic deeds of
the 716 men on board. The big liner,
once a German merchant vessel, was
well out to sea-homeward bound from
French pOrt-when she was struck
by three tOrpedoes. A lookout spied
Its messengers Of destruction 400 yards
distant off port side and an attempt
was made to turn the vessel. but it was
then too late.
Two tOrpedOes struck at almost the
same spot, about 12O feet from the
bow, the third similar distance from
the stern.
In spite Of the large number Of men
aboard the President Lincoln, the un-
dersea craft accounted for only three
Officers-one taken captive-and %
enlisted men.
Saved by Discipline.
All others were saved, chiefly be-
cause they acted quietly and prompt
ly and obeyed signaled orders, as the
sound Of officers voices was lost In
the roar Of escaping steam.
Included In the rescued were two
paralyzed soldiers and number Of
sick. Their comrades saw to it that
they were cared for first.
Ac ho
however, the call to battle stations was
sounded Immediately. Preparations
were made to launch the lifeboats, and
the guns were ordered manned.
The inspection showed seven life
less bodies in the forward hold-men
killed either by the explosion or in
the thrush Of water.
Little Time Given.
Fifteen minutes after the ship was
struck 1t appeared quite evident that
she would SINK" says Commander Per-
cy w. Foote In his report to Cecretary
Daniels, and at whose suggestion the
report was made public. "The boats
and rafts were placed In the water
and the order was given all hands to
abandon ship. This order did not in
clude the guns crew, however, who
remained at their guns awaiting fur
ther orders"
Commander FoOte says that the bow
gun opened fire and kept peppering
away in the direction where the sub
marine was thought to be. Meantime
the vessel was slowly settling in the
water.
Only five men and an officer had
been assigned to lower the boats be-
cause of the fear that they might
capsize If loaded and lowered quick
ly. One boat carried the paralyzed
soldiers and SICK
When all boats and rafts were
overheard, the old Atlantic saw
strange sight. More than 700 men
made 700 splashes and an instant
later 700 heads bobbed up and 700
bodies began clambering on rafts
and into the lifeboats.
Commander FoOte and the chief
master at arms were among the last
to leave the ship. The latter had
reported all hands out of the vessel
then three-quarters under water, then
two men jumped.
The gun crew after rattling off q
few farewells to the hidden enemy,
also jumped.
Collecting the Boats.
Then began the work Of collecting
the boats and RATS, the former carry
ing 500, the latter bearing 200. Mean
while the big transport, within sight
Of all, and with what seemed a vis-
ible shudder, went to her last resting
place.
1.-THE submarine then came to the
surface" says Commander Foote'S ac-
count, "and took one Of the sailors,
Seaman Anderson, on board and then
little later took one of the officers,
Lieutenant Isaacs, after which 1t re-
turned to the boat. Anderson stated
that the submarine commander treated
him kindly and gave him coffee and
cognac."
A short time later an American de-
stroyer hove through the blackness
and mighty shout Of welcome was
given by the survivors. An hour
later another destroyer reached the.
scene and by two o'clock in the morn
ing all the survivors were embarked.