Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-02-13

money needed for supplies for the
| survivors. A telegram also was sent
to the American consulate at Bel
fast. asking that money and supplies
for immediate needs be supplied.
The British Red Cross, which has
depots in ireland, Immediately placed
all its resources at the disposal Of
the Americans and instructed its rep
resentatives to do anything possible
to help.
Loss Probably 21O Lives.
Washington, d. c., Feb. T.
The latest official dispatch receiv-
cd here on the loss OF the Tuscania
places Tho number Of American troops
missing at 113; others, 81. Total,
2l0.
Cable messages here to-day in ship
ping circles from London report the
captain, purser and chief steward Of
the Tuscania saved.
Such reports as were at hand early
to-day gave no details OF how the
transport, supposedly heavily con-
voyed, fell In with tho submarine,
but 1t was regarded as more proba-
bic that the ship stumbled on the
submersiblc. rather than that the dis
aster was the first shot in the much
advertised German offensive against
the line Of American troops and sup
plies.
Twentieth Engineers Aboard.
At first there was some confusion
at the War Department as to whe-
ther the Twentieth Engineers or the
lO7th Engineers were aboard the
Tuscania.
1t finally was established that the
107th Engineer regiment was not on
board. (This Is n separate organiza-
ton from the 107th Engineer train,
which was on board.)
A headquarters company and Co.
panies d, Il and II, OF the Twentieth
Engineers, were on board. These
units comprise the Sixth battalion of
the Twentieth, which Is forestry
regiment, not attached to the Thirty
second division. 1t is one of the for
estry regiments especially organized
for work in France.
The Twentieth Engineers (forest-
ers) is the largest regiment in the
world, although only one battalion
was on the Tuscania. The aggregate
strength Of the regiment is 1900
offcers and men. Some Of the units
are still in training. Col. w. A. Nit
mands the regiment, and Henry S.
Graves, chief forester OF the United
States Department Of Agriculture, Is
lieutenant colonel. Neither. however,
was with the battalion on the Tus-
cania.
The work of the Twentieth regi-
ment, which was raised with the ac-
tive cooperation Of the American
Forestry Association, is to cut tim 4
Der IN French forests for military
uses at the lighting front, for hospi-
tails. Y.M.C.A. buildings and other
purposes.
Possibility of Mine.
There was some speculation among
naval officers OH the possibility that
the Tuscania might have struck n
mine. The indicated location Of the
disaster is in region not previously
frequented by submarines, but the
text of the official announcement says
the ship was torpedoed, and until de-
tailed accounts Of the incident are
available for study, there Is nothing
to justify going. behind the formal
/
1t is doubtful that the Tuscania
was In route usually followed by
transports. As a British
vessel under British convoy, the Sc
curity Of the American troops beyond
was entrusted to British
So far as now 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 be-
come almost routine through practice
in both the British and American ma
vies.
screen Of destroyors or other
swift craft travels ahead Of con-
Voycd fleet. The destroyers are
spread out over Il considerable area.
1t Is known that virtually all Of the
German U-boats are equipped with
listening devices OF considerable
range, so the approach Of the de-
stroyers become known to the u
boat commander even before the yes
sells themselves were sighted. Fear
OF depth bombs would drive the u
boat below to lurk motionless at
some depth until the sound Of the de-
stroycr's pr0pcllers had faded out,
showing that they had passed. The
U-boat probably will come to the sur
face then to explore.
Navy officials say that the one
chance against which absolute pre-
caution will not guard is that the
submarine will come up in the path
OF the approaching transports, obtain
a sight that will permit her to train
her torpedo tubes by compass and
again Submergc