The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1918-02-14
TROOPSHiP CARRYING AMERICANS
T0RPED0ED OFF The IRISH COAST
2,l79 United States Troops Aboard; l,9l2
Survivors Are Landed
TUSCAN|A WAS MANNED BY BRITISH CREW
Men on Board Principally From States Of
Michigan and Wisconsin
Attacks fousnr OF.


ports to France last June twice fought
off submarine attacks. Since then,
however, there has been no report Of
an attack on a ship carrying American
troops TO Europe.
Recently tn eNayy Department has
feared that the Germans would make
concerted effort to intercept trans
ports, the recall of many of the sub.
marines TO their bases being inter
preted as preliminary to such a cam
paign.
The position of the Tuscania when
she was sunk Is taken to indiacte that
she was bound to England. Her sink
ing definitely discloses that British
ships are being used to carry Amer
lean troops abroad, supplementlng
American transport tonnage This
fact has been intimated before and
probably arises from the decision Of
the Supreme War Council to make
every effort to augment General Persh-
ing's Army during the present year
Accidents Unavoidable.
Naval officials have insisted that
despite the most careful plans and
efforts TO safeguard transports. there
was always a chance that troop ship
would stumble upon a lurking sub
marine and the general belief was
that this is what had happened in this
case.
The same regulations as to life-say-
ing appartus govern the movement
of American troops on a British vessel
as would govern their passage on an
American craft.
Those regulations, which are rigidly
enforced, provide for sufficient life
boats and life raft capacity for every
man aboard the ship, even If one-half
of the boats are rendered useless
through the listing of the ship when
she is struck.
First Transport Lost.
Although prior to January l of the
present year there were more than
100000 American troops in France,
according to the statement made by
Secretary of War Baker, the Tuscania
was the first transport to be torpe'
doed on the voyage from an American
port TO France. Several American
transports, however have been torpe
doed on the return journey, after hav
ing debarked troops.
When the Tuscania was first pu
into service her apartments for first
cabin passengers, OF whom she coulC
carry $50, were sumptuous. The
paneling of her main lounger room
was in olive wood, inlaid with a line
of sycamore. The floors were of pol
ished oak.
A veranda, cafe and gymnasium
smoking rooms, dining saloons anC
novel system of heating and ven
tilation were features of the new liner
The first and second class state room!
were situated on the bridge deck anC
shelter deck amidships and were larg,
in size and well furnished.
1t is probable, however in view
of the exigencies OF the situation tina
the steamer had been stripped of mos
of her luxurious fittings in order t,
take as great a number OF troops a
possible on each voyage.
On Irish Coast.
Buncranna, at which survivors from
the Tuscania were landed, is locates
on Lough Swilly, on the Northern
Coast of Ireland, 12 miles from Lon
donderry. Lough Swilly is a long, mai
row bay running in from the Atlanti
Ocean.
Larne, where other survivors wer
landed from the vessel, is on tn
Northeast coast of Ireland, 90 mile
from Belfast. 1t is a North Channe
port The approximate distance b
water between the two ports is 10
miles.