New-York tribune., 1918-02-08
Destroyer Dashed After
the Submarine and
Dropped Bomb
Think Charge Effective
American Officer Intimates
That Troopship's Loss
Was Avenged

LONDONDERRY. Ireland, Feb. 7
The submarine which torpedoed the
Tuscania was attacked by destroyer
An American officer gave an ntimatior
that the submarine was destroyed.
This officer was one of the last tt
leave the Tuscania. He gave The Asso.
ciated Press vivid account of the
sinking. The second torpedo fired by
the submarine missed it's mark, he
said. Thereupon a destroyer which
was near The sinking liner dashed of
toward the submarine, using a bomb
dropping device. The claim is made
that the submarine was done in" by
the bombs thus exploded.
The officer said
Everything went we'll with US dur.
ing the voyage. Many Of our men had
never been to sea before, and | must
say they stood it like soldiers.
we were one of powerful convoy
must not tell you our position in the
convoy or how the various ships were
formed, but you may take it that all tho
other boats have got through, as far as
know. AS for ourselves--well, the
Huns succeeded in getting only 81 frac.
ton of our fine fellows in addition to
our boat; but they have put the iron
into our souls and we will be ready
to repay them when the chance offers
Monday was wild night. Had the
disaster occurred during a gale I don't
like to think of what would have hap.
pened. But Tuesday evening was calm
"The first intimation we had OF
possible danger was an order for al
- .sl1.
was about 4:30 o'clock. At the same
time we sharply altered our course
At 6 o'clock. just as the darkness was
saw the periscopc, nor could one have
been seen we'll. Some soldiers de.
scribed having heard a kissing sound
mediately before the torpedo struck
US in the engine room.
eve were instantly disabled. All the
lights went out. An order rang out
sending the troops to their boat sta
tions and to get the lifeboats out. The
shock was not severe. 1t was more
of 'crunching-in' feeling that went
through the ship than of direct
blow. There naturally was q good deaI
of confusion. You cannot lower 8
score of lifeboats from the height OF
an upper deck in the darkness with
out some confusion. but at no time was
there a panic.
"There was great excitement, how.
ever, but it lasted only a few minutes
Then all the men pulled themselves to
gether. Megaphone calls were given
all over the ship, saying there was nc
danger that the vessel would sink be.
fore all we're taken off. In this mean.
time S o S signals were sent out
Gwen before some Of US had graspeo
the situation British destroyers were
dashing up alongside. Such soldiers as
had been lowered in lifeboats were put
on board destroyers. A few men who
had jumped overheard in the first ex.
citement were picked up. l believe
one or two lifeboats were smashed in
launching.
"The destroyers took off our men in
splendid style with perfect order
"All the time the Tuscania was slow.
~ sinking. For minute did not know
whether to go into lifeboat or to
stick by the ship. One of the mem
bers of the crew urged that we stay
on board and trust John Bulls de-
stroyers. He yelled this in in my ear
took his advice and waited for my
turn to go on board destroyer.
"No sooner had we cast off, with soc
men on board, than torpedo was free
at us. 1t missed. Another destroyer
dashed off, operating a bomb dropping
device, and the claim was afterwarC
made that the submarine had been
SOno in -