Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-07
TRANSPORT SUNK
IN NARROW CHANNEL
NORTH OF IRELAND
Tuscania's Speed Had Saved Her
in Previous Attacks-Last Re-
ported Here Jan. IL.
COULD CARRY 2,sOO MEN

The course the Tuscania WAS following
when torpedocd WAS through the North
Channel, narrow passage between
North Ireland and the coast OF Scotland.
II is through this that ships so to Bel
fast and Glasgow 1t is D dangerous
course even in peace times, because OF the
strong tides, but many transports have
been taking il during the war in order to
avoid tho German submarines which have
made the southern passage-St- George s
thannel-their rendezvous.
II was off Lough Swily that the British
battlcship Audacious was sunk. Lough
Swlliy is an Admiralty on the north coast
Ii extends from the Atlantic Ocean TWEEN
ty-five miles inward and is one of the
finest deep water harbors on the Irish
coast.
Buncrana, where many of the Ameri-
cans aboard the Tuscania were landed, is
un the harbor about eleven miles from
Londonderry IL is n watering place
Larne, where other survivors landed
is town Of 1000 inhabitants on Larne
l.Ough on the northeast coast in County
Antrim, about twenty-three miles from
Belfast. IL is North Channel port and
n about 100 miles from Buncrana
As Larne and Buncrana are at ex-
treme ends of the North Channel it is
likely that the Tuscania was about half
way through when a tao cd.
COULD CARRY $500 PERSONS.
The Tuscania was British passen-
ger and freight steamship of l4,34S tons
gross register She was built in Glasgow
IN 1914 and was owned by the Anchor
Line, and for the last two wears has been
under charter to the Cunard Line.
The last report OF the Tuscania was
her arrival at an Atlantic port January
IL last. She made her maiden trip
TO New York from Glasgow, arriving
here on Feb. IL. 1915. For the last few
months she has been used to transport
American and Canadian troops To France.
The TusCanIa was one of the best
equipped vessels in the transatlantic
service, and was the first ocean liner OF
the larger class TO be fitted with geared
turbines She was equipped luXurlotsly
IN her staterooms and lounge rooms. She
was ~. feet long with a 66-foot beam
and was equipped to carry $500 pas
sengcrs IN cabin and steerage accommoda-
tIons. and had speed of about 10 knots
On several occasions since the war
began the Tuscania has been the object
of submarine attacks, but managed TO
escape through her speed, assisted by
defence guns.
CREW ONCE SAVED 400.
On Sept II, 1918, the TIscania ar
rived AZ New York with 409 persons
rescued from the Greek steamship Athinal,
which was burned on the Atlantic, $50
miles southwest OF Halifax Every one
an board was saved by the crew of tho
TiScania
When war broke out between this
country and Germany the Tuscania
transported many thousands of American |
10 h,a
Battalion of the l65th Infantry lold |
seth Regiment Of this city from an I
Atlantic port and landed them safely st |
a port IN France without sighting 3 I
submarine.
Although prior 70 Jan of the present !
year there were more than POO 600 /
American troops IN France. according TO |
a statement by Secretary of War Baker. I
the Tuscania was the first transport to be /
torpedoed on the voyage from an Ameri-
can port.
One OF the american transports, tho
Antilles, however, had been torpedoed on
the return Journey after having debarkcd
troops
MCLEAN PROBABLY IN CHARGE.
As far as is known here, Capt. Peter |
Mclean was IN command of the Tuscania !
when she was sunk He has been the !
rifaHFf GlllSl OIuctI lOl HtdltN TWO !
wears he WAS we'll known mariner |
and had a picked crew with experienced !
gunners on board, furnished by the Brit /
lsh Admiralty from the Royal British i
Marines.
On March - last when the TSscanla
was 500 miles west Of Fastnet Light. off (,
the Irish coast, submarine appeared /
The pcriscope of the U-boat. SAID TO be /
one of the latest type, was sighted off the |
s,arboard beam two miles away. The |
liner zizagged away 70 port at l7-knot
clip, while the whistle sounded two long
and two sharp blasts, calling the crew
10 quarters.
After chase of few miles the Tuscanla
left the submarine III the rear and con
tinued its journey 10 New York, the |
U-boat having taken one shot at the
steamer. The passengers had donned life |
belts and the life boats were already to
lower in case she was struck