The Washington times., 1918-02-07

keep making the trips with perfect
immunity
Deepest sorrow everywhere was ex-
pressed over the loss Of lsfe. 1t was
remarked that 1t was a national quart
OUTFIT which had suffered the FIRST big
blow for the army on the sea To
Michigan and Wisconsin will go that
place in history.
The news came to Washington as a
severe shock. No intimation Of dis
aster was allowed to become known
until about 10 o'clock last night. when
Secretary OF War Baker was hurried
~ summoned to the department. A
few minutes later George Creel head
of the Bureau OF Public Information.
reached his office, and then announce
ment was made to the newspapers
that the first loaded transport had
been sunk in the Atlantic.
Early News Alarming.
The early news was most alarm
ing. a IL placed the number Of miss
ing al more than 1000. II caused a
chill OF horror everywhere. Soldiers
are expected to be killed in action.
But to be drowned like rats in a trap
in a sinking transport is a much sad
der fate. A short time later. how
ever, the news was received that
other survivors had been landed at
another Irish port and this buoyed
up the hope that the loss Of life would
be comparatively small
At the National Press Club last
night Major Frederick Palmer. chief
censor for General PershinE, and
now in this country explaining the
manner in which the United States
has entered the war, was speaking.
Palmer was handed a slip OF paper
- 4 tRa 1.
ended his talk. lie read it and then
said:
Gentlemen. this is bad news very
bad news"
He then read the War Depart
ment's first announcement.
But" lie resumed. with flashing
eyes. there Is a real American army
in France tonight. The deaths OF
these boys Of ours will be avenged q
hundred times over"
No Sign of weakening.
This incident accurately describes
how the National Capital received
the dread word. Nowhere was there
any sign OF weakening. Sorrow
there vas, intense sorrow for the
boys who had lost their lives and
who go on the roll Of the nation s
heroes But there was nowhere any
indication that any one was terror
tied by this demonstration Of Ger.
man pow er. Instead. teeth w"rs
cIenChcd. eyes were bright and d'tch
mined and the shoulders even II
civilians who are too old for wa
service wcr" squared. II Germany
has entertained the belief thar By
striking this blow sh" Will stamp out
the war spirit in America. Sh" hTs
utterly failed II tn" nation acts a.
Washington is doing today. And the
Washington pupularc Today - r"pr"-
SENTATIVE OF the cntIrr country.
numbering As II doe in its ""sn"-
politan ranks people from ever" Soc
ton attracted b. the war work and
doing their bit.
II was in order 10 allay the appr"-
heusluu Of IA" entire country that TIA"
War department early today made
rjhiir tn Identity of The units that
were on board the Tuscania. II Wa>
& military secret. Of course. and in
maxim. II public the United States
Government kept its word that II
would deal frankly with the people
regarding disasters other countries
have kept all such Information from
their public. but Secretary Of War
BAKER and his advisers decided that to
follow this example would inhict un-
necessary misery on many who knew
their loved ones had been ordered
overseas