Evening journal., 1918-02-07
2IO AMERICANSLOST AT SEA
Lcontlnned From FIrst Passl


sity at Washington A large number Of
college men, including experts in for
estry are in the regiment.
The aero squadrons were drawn from
various divisions.
The remaining troops. comprising
more than two-thirds Of those on
board. were Michigan and Wisconsin
rlsrdsmen. The 10Th Engineers Train
was composed Of the former flrst bat
TALON Of Michigan Engineers and the
fO7th military police was drawn from
the ith and 9th Wisconsin Infantry
The 10Th supply train was drawn
from the ith. 5th and 9th Wisconsin
Infantry.
The report from the War Department
pointed out that the Tuscania was
British steamship and not an American
transport. This was taken to mean
that the recent agreement Of the Brit
ish TO put all shippins facilities posi-
Bile at the disposal OF the United states
for carrying soldiers, munitions and
supplies already has been put into ef-
feet.
Survivors on Way to Belfast.
Reports that survivors were being
taken 10 Belfast, led 10 the supposition
that the Tuscania was bound for Liver
pool by way Of the North Irish coast.
It was suggested by officials that rough
seas may have separated the vessel
from its convoy Fear that survivors
may be. suffering acutely from exposure
ls thought to have prompted the Amer
lean embassy az London, and Belfast
oficials TO hasten plans for the immedi-
ate relief Of the troops on their arrival
AZ the irish port.
THE ambassador has sent an assist
ant military attache and another army
offlcer to Belfast, Ireland the Ameri-
can embassy al London cabled the
state Department at a o'clock last
night.
Representatives OF the American Red
Gross and the Y NJ. G.. A., also have
gone with full power 10 spend all the
money needed and authorization from
the British Red Cross TO use their
eulipnient at Belfast. The latest infor
nation was that 1912 ofilcers and men
on the Tuscania were accounted for out
n 2,i7a."
Tha initial announcement Of the
disaster by the War Department, was:
'The War Department has been on
ciaIly advised that the steamship Tus-
cania was torpedoed and sunk and that
survivors numbering l.iOO rs far as
conId be ascertained at that line, were
landed at Buncarana and Larne, In Ire
land. There was o total nf 2,i70 United
states troops on this vessel. No name
Of persons lost has been reported 10 the
War Department and no name OF sur
vi,ors was reported"
First Large Troop ship Lost.
The fact that the Tuscania was the
arst large troop ship TO be torpedoed
on the Atlantic. led oflcials here TO
conclude that the expected drive Of the
Germans against American transports
is on. The slight losses by latest re-
PORTS are strlklngly lower than those
Of British transports lost early in the
war IN the Mediterranean Sea This
was accounted for in ofllcial circles by
he elaborate torpedo drills on every
American troop ship and by the EN-
cheney OF the convoy system.
The names Of survivors Of the disas-
ter began to reach tho War Department
by cable from Belfast early this morn
Ink. 10 was announced that the names
VIII be given out In their entirety IN
order to prevent undue anxiety by rela-
tiyes. The initial list Included 20 Ma
iional Guard and regular army o1loers.
National Army troops transferred 20
NE guard 10 bring the division 20 war
strength were included in the units.
II any Of these are lost they viii be
lhc arst soldiers called 90 the colors
by conscriptlon TO die overseas
II was grim coincidence that the
news OF the Tuscania disaster should
follow rapidly on lhs heels Of a state
mint by secretary Of the Navy Daniels
lhat thl war against the U-Boat Is be
iig Wnn
II also followed announcement in
London Yesterday that the United
slalos Is waging a successful cam
paign against the U-boat with unique
devices"
OWNS to the fact. however, that the
Tuscania was a Brltisher u Is believed
the United states Navy did not nave
vessels in her convoy.
The first word Of the attack, indicat-
ing a thousand Americans had been
lost, reached here late last night. sec
retary Of War Baker and Secretary
Daniels were both in their ofnces when
the news came in. u was held up for
some time in the hope that later ad-
vices would show a greater number Of
survivors.
Wilson Hears News at Theatre.
President Wilson was at the theatre
when the news broke over the city.
Shouted extras announcing the heavy
toll IN American lives greeted him as
he emerged from the foyer with Mrs.
Wilson. Reaching the White House he
called both Baker and Daniels for full
account OF the disaster.
The shock Of early bad reports was
modified by later encouraging messages.
Il Is not clear that conveys and pa
troll boats were near az hand for sur
vivors have been landed at widely sep
arated points on the Irish coast.
This fact also held out hope today
that Of the 26O or more men yet TO
be accounted for, some may have been
safely landed al an obscure place on
the coast. No mention has been thus
far made Of this.
May Have Fought U-boat.
The fact that the transport ship was
under convoy leads to belief here that
sharp tight with the enemy may have
occurred before or after the Tuscania
received her death blow Great prepa-
ratlons had been made for the German
assault on transports for some time
Lord Northcllfie. through the United
Press, warned Of the German prepare
lions several months ago. Early last
week army ofncisls here anticipated
the. concerted J-bOat effort when the