The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-02-08
British Admiralty Places
Losses at 16S, Which Is
Probably Correct.
CONVOYS CLOSE TO
TORPEDOED SHIP
In Some Quarters Belief Ex-
ist That Tuscania Struck
a Floating Mine.
Associated Press.

Washington, Feb. 7.-Torpedoed and
sunk by a German submarine, the
Cunard liner Tuscania bearing 2.1is
chicers and men of the 32nd national
guard division, lies at the bottom OF
the North Atlantic ocean today and at
least 1es--probably more are missing.
ON the basis of the figures reported
30 the war and state departments mere,
the missing would be 267; the figures
Of the British admiralty, as they stooo
.oday however placed the missing ST
16s.
There is every hope that the latter
number will prove to he correct.
British conveys close to the torpedoei
ship closed i'm quickly and did heroic
work as the comparatively small mum
ber of losses show. The position or
the Tuscania off the North coast OF
Ireland. evidently headed for Eng
land, also was that such numbers or
British patrol ships and other vessels
rushed to her side and in that was the
losses were minimized.
Such reports as were at hand todaE
gave no details OF how the transport,
supposedly heavily conveyed, fell in
with the submarine, but il was re-
garded as more than probably that the
ship stumbled on the submersible
rather than the disaster was the first
shot in the much advertised German
offensive against the line of American
troops and supplies.
n was thought possible here that
survivors Of the British crew of the
vessel, not reported in war depart
ment advices might account for the
difference in figures as TO the number
Of missing.
There was some speculation among
~ ff@f1 haf
Tuscania might have struck a nina.
The indicated location of the disaster
is in a region not previously frequented
~ submarines. but the text of official
announcements say the ship was tor
pedoed and undetailed accounts of the
accident are available for study there
is nothing TO justify going behind the
formal statement.
It is doubtful that the Tuscania was
IN a rodte usually followed by Amer'
can transports. AS a British vessel
under convoy, the security OF tue
American troops beyond question was
entrusted to British handling. So far
az now known. no American naval
craft shared in the task. Probably
nun1erous other transports or army
supply vessels were in the convoy.
The Tuscania must have remained
afoat FOR a considerable time. Rumors
were current today which csuld moi
he traced to any source that she was
still afloat.
The process Of conveying has be-
come aS:11ost routine through pra >ticf
i'm both the British and American ma
yies. 4 screen of destroyers or othcl
swift craft travels ahead OF con
vowed fleet. The destroyers are
spread out over a considerable area
~FystVr Nv oil IF II
German L boats are equipped wit
listening devices Of considerable range
50 the approach OF the destroyers be
anne known to the L boat commands
sven before the vessels themselves
we're sighted Fear of depth bomb,
would drive the L boat below. TO lurl
notionIess at some depth until TIT
sound OF the destroyers' propeller haC
faded out showing that they ha
passed The L boat probably woul'
come 10 the surface then then 20 ex
lore. Navy officials say that the o.
nnce against which absolute pr.
autiou will not guard, is that the sui
marine will come mp in the path of tn
approa ching transports, obtain sigh
hat will permit her TO train her tor
oedo tubes by compass and agai
submerge.
While the loss indicated was full
appreciated by officials here, there Wa
general air of relief about the wa
and navy departments that the los
of life was not larger.
Every Americn soldier lost on tn
Tuscania having dependents, was pro
tected by government insurance. Man
lad applied for voluntary insuranc
which is sssued in amounts up 70 $40,
90 and all are covered by governsner
compensation payable to widow
child, or widowed mother. This auto
matte Insurance aggregates abo.
$4,000 ard is paid at the rate OF abou
S25 month for twenty years.
STEWARD TELLS WHAT