The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-02-08
ADVICES TO WAR DEPARTMENT
TELL OF 2156 US. MEN ABOARD
There Is Some Ground for Belief That
the Attacking Submarine Was De-
stroyed Shortly After the Attack

lean officer gave an intimation that tn
submarine was destroyed.
This officer was one of the last L
leave the Tuscania. He gave the As
sociated Press vivid account of the dis
aster.
The second torpedo fired by the sub
marine missed its mark. he said, There
upon destroyer, which was near th'
| sinking liner, dashed off toward the sub
marine, using bomb dropping device
The claim is made that the submarine
was done in" by the bombs thus ex.
ploded.
The American officer said
Everything went well with us during
the voyage. Many of our men had never
been to sea before and | must say they
stood it like Soldiers.
I'VE were one of powerful convoy
/ 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 | know. As for ourselves-well, the
Huns succeeded in getting only frac-
tion of our fine fellows in addition TO
our boat; but if they have, they have
put the mon into our souls and we will
be ready to repay them when the chance
offers.
Monday was wild night. Had the
disaster occurred during a gale | don't
like to think what would have happened.
But Tuesday was calm.
THE first intimation we had of posi-
Bile danger was an order for all men to
go on deck. with life belts. 1t was about
a. 30 o'clock. At the same time we
sharply altered the course. At 6 o'clock,
just as the darkness was setting well in,
we got the blow. Nobody saw the peri.
scope, nor could one have been seen
we'll. Some soldiers described having
heard kissing sound Immediately be-
fore the torpedo struck us in the en-
gine room.
''We were instantly disabled. All the
lights went out. An order rang out,
sending the troops to their boat stations
and to get the lifeboats out. The shock
was not severe. 1t was more OF crunch
ing-in feeling that went through the
ship than OF direct blow. There natur-
ally was a good deal OF confusion, but
at no time was there a panic.
There was great excitement, however. |
but it lasted only few minutes Then |
all the men pulled themselves together |
called all over the ship, say |
ing there was no danger that the vessel |
would not sink before all were taken off |
In the meantime S. Q. S. signals we're |
sent out.
Even before some of us had grasped |
the situation British destroyers were
lashing up along side. Such soldiers
as had been lowered in lifeboats were
put on board destroyers. A few men
who had jumped overheard in the first
excitement were picked up. ! believe one
Or two lifeboats were smashed in launch
ng.
THE destroyers took of our men in
plendid style, with perfect order.
"All this time the Tuscania was slow
y sinking. For minute / did not know
whether to go into lifeboat or to stick
" the ship.
"One of the members of the crew
Urged that we stay on board and trust
ohm Bulls destroyers He yelled this
n my ear | took his advice and wait
d for my turn to come TO 90 on board
destroyer. Ii
NO sooner had we cast off, with 500 ,
len on board than torpedo was fred !,
t us. II missed. Another destroyer i,
ashed off, operating bomb dropping
evice. and the claim was afterwards
lade that the submarine had been done .
L."