The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1918-02-14
ACCOUNT FOR ALL
BUT rs SOLDIERS
LATEST OFFICIAL ADviCES TO
WASHINGTON CUTS DOWN
LOSS OF LIFE.
MAY BE REDUCED FURTHER
Figures Not Final And High Hopes
Are Entertained That Death
List VIII Be
Smaller.

Washington, Feb. 9.-Latest official
advices to the War department ac-
counted for all except 113 of the 2,156
American soldiers who were on board
the British liner Tuscania when a sub
marine sent her down off the Irish
coast.
This figure was not final, and high
hopes that the loss of life would
cabled reports saying just 101 men,
most of them members of the crew,
were missing among the entire force
of soldiers, sailors and passengers.
Virtually no story of the sinking of
the Tuscania has reached the govern
ment through official channels. Dis
patches from the embassy at London
and other sources so far have been
confined to terse statements and an
nouncements of the number saved.
Press accounts consequently have
been read with more than ordinary
interest by every one. Army officers
are proud of the way the troops be-
havcd and point to the story of how
the partially trained boys lined up on
deck and sang national airs while
awaiting their turns in the boats as
evidence of what may be expected of
American soldiers.
Washington, Feb. 8. - Carrying
2,i7s American soldiers, the Cunard
liner Tuscania has been tor
pedoed off the Irish coast, but late
official reports said 2O7S of the of
ficers and men had been saved, indi-
eating the loss of 101 lives. These
reports suggested the list of rescued
might prove ever larger.
The troops were composed chief.
ly OF detachments of Michigan and
Wisconsin National guardsmen.
The Tuscania is a British vessel,
and vas under convoy of British war.
ships.
Greater Loss First Reported.
A brief dispatch to the War depart
ment from London early in the even
ing announced the disaster and re-
ported the landing of only LOO sur
vivors and for more than two hours
it was feared that probably 1,400
men, including members Of the lin
er's crew, had gone down.
When a message came to the State
department from the embassy at
London later saying 1912 Of the
Americans had been accounted for,
the joy of officials almost swept
away the distress occasioned by the
earlier news.
The first LOO survivors were land
ed at Larne and Buncrana, two wide
ly separated Irish ports, and this,
coupled with the evident fact that
rescue ships were quickly at hand
gave rise to hope that nearly every
body on board the Tuscania except
those injured by the explosion might
have been saved.
President Waits News.
The President, Secretary Baker
and, in fact, all official Washington
were up late waiting for further
news. Only the briefest dispatches
we're received, and none gave details
Of the attack on the liner. Even the
thine was not given, but 1t was as
sumed that 1t occurred early In the
morning, as the first message was
fled at London at 3 o'clock in the
afternoon, probably within an hour
after the relief ships reached the
Irish coast.
The President was at the theater
when the news was received, and he
was not told until he returned to the
White House. In the meantime the
War, Navy and State departments
had sent urgent messages by wireless
and cable ~instructing their represen-
tatives in England and Ireland to for
ward every available fact immedi-
atciy.
List o. Units Aboard.
Because Of the nature Of the mill
tary organizations carried by the ship
the War department announced that
II would be impossible to say def