Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-08-16
HUNS TORPEDO
HOSPITAL ship Shit
British Transport WariIda, with
400 Wounded, Is Sunk in
English Channel
HELPLESS SOLDIERS DROWN.
Missile Puts Out Lights and Kills Most
OF 100 Patients in Ward Room,
Near Which 1t Struck-Rest
Drown in Darkness.

4 British POrt.--Ihe torpeuolhS vi
The British ship Warilda was one OF
he most narrowing disasters in the
history of submarine warfare. Inc
number Of dead is variously estimated
from 105 to 100 and upward and in
tludes several women nurses.
The ship carried COO sick and wound
ed. Among them were seven Amerl-
rams, two officers and five enlisted men,
Ill Of whom have been accounted for
except one private.
There were aboard 9 nurses ana
members OF the voluntary aid depart
ment, and the crew comprised about
200 men.
More than 600 survivors, brought
here, were given first aid treatment,
GOOD and clothing. The patients were
riaced aboard special trains, which
had been waiting to receive them, ana
sent to hospitals in various parts OF
the country.
The torpedo struck the afterpart OF
the engine room, killing the third en-
gineer and two other members OF the
engine room force. The dynamo was
destroyed, plunging the vessel in dark
ness.
Just over the dynamo was the ward
patients. Most Of these were Killed
outright by the explosion, and the 9TH
ers, many of whom had been freshly
injured by the torpedo, found them
selves trapped.
It was impossible for outside aid to
reach them, and all persisted except
few, who jumped overheard and were
picked up.
This part of the ship quickly set
tied and water flooded the Wardroom,
drowning the men Gagged there.
The majority of the survivors had
only the slight protection Of their
night clothing and suffered severely
from exposure. All the Americans were
sick cases, and the two officers were
suffering with pneumonia The Ameri-
cans have been sent to hospital.
Stories of the fearful struggle in
he darkness to rescue the helpless
invallds are told by survivors. The
ship remained afloat more than two
hours, but for a great part Of the
time continued under Roadway be-
cause the engines could not be stopped.
This condition greatly hampered the
rescue work, and in addition three or
four boats were smashed while being
lowered, throwing their occupants into
:he sea.
All the soldier patients and the
nurses testify to the heroic efforts of
officers and crew. Notwithstanding the
excitement and confusion, which were
increased by the inky darkness, the
crew, under the mastery direction Of
.he officers, went coolly and method
ically about the difficult task Of bring
ing the sick and wounded up on deck.
AS many as could be handled in this
manner were laced in sings and low
cred to the escorting destroyers, which.
by wonderful seamanship in the rough
water, managed to work in close
enough to the sinking ship to take Oft
men by lowering ropes.
The morale Of the wounded, lying
on deck waiting to be taken off, Is
described by members Of the crew as
'too fine for words" They never COM
planned, and they never urged the res
cuers to hurry.
The less seriously disabled assisted
their more unfortunate mates to go
first. Women were placed in the first
boats lowered, Notwithstanding their
protests that they should not precede
the patients.