The Washington herald., 1918-09-09
IS SKILLED ON
MT. VERNON AS
TORPEDO HITS
Toll Taken Among Crew as
U-Boat Attacks Former
German Liner.
J. HAM LEWIS ABOARD
Great American Transport
Puts Back Into Port Un-
T. der Own Power.
J. HAM LEWIS ABOARD

Thirty-fve persons. principally MEM
bers of the fireroom crew of the Mt.
Vernon, formerly the German liner
Kronprinzessin Cecile. were killed
when the ship was struck by tor
pedo Thursday last 800 miles off the
French coast, it was announced yes
tetrday by the Navy Department.
The official announcement states
that Senator James Hamilton Lewis,
OF IIlionis, was one of the passengers
and is among those reported safely
landed.
Nearly vnterInnd's Capacity.
The Mt. Vernon is one OF the great
German ships taken over by the
United States and has been used as
transport. She was on her return
to the United states when struck.
The estimate OF her carrying capacity
as a troop ship places it as near that
OF thu old Vaterland.
The news that SO many OF the ships
complement had been killed was
great surprise to the navy officials as
the first reports indicated that there
were no casualties. The belief that
there were no fatalities, however.
was based principally on the fact
back into port under her own steam
and at a fourteen knot clip, which
was an indication that she had NOT
been hit in vital part so far as
her motive power was concerned. The
official dispatch, however, states that
1.-The torpedo struck the ship. on the
starboard side. flooding No. fire.
room, but the extent of the damage
is not stated"
Naval experts say that even grant
ing that she was hit hard at the
place stated. being a great vessel.
she had sufficient flotation left md
engines forward that~-roul1 account
for her evident dash away from the
submarine. There is nothing, how
ever. from official sources to show
whether she was pursued and shelIed
OF whether the convoy came to the
rescue and drove of the enemy. II
is believed. Notwithstanding the fact
that the Navy department does not
give the extent of the damage, that
the Mt. Vernon's wounds are not so
serious as to prevent her from taking
her place again at an early date with
the TRANSPORT feet. b..
Attsck Proves Frskiels. ~,
There Is onlyfa theory to explain
how the submarine could have ap-
, preached the Mt. Vernon close enough
to have launched the torpedo. Some
officials believe that she trusted to
her great speed and to her very large
armed guard. probably 225, to save
her under any and all circumstances.
The facts given out by the Navy
Department are however SO meaSer
that there Is only choice between
theories. The important consideration
| is that the ship was not only not
sunk, but that all the evidence is that
she may undergo quick repairing in
foreign port.
First With senator Aboard.
This United States transport is the
first of the big United States ships
to be hit while a Senator Or other dis
! tinguished oficial was on board.
When she was obliged to return to
the United States upon the declara-
tion of war she had on board among
her passengers Representative Rich
ard Bartholdt. OF Missouri.
The Mount Vernon has an interest
! ing history. As the Kronprinzessin
Cecelie she was a well-known liner
plying between American and Eng
lish and French ports. On her last
attempted trip to Cherbourg and
Plymouth she was caught at sea
by the declaration of war against
Germany. She had on board a con-
signment of bold bars and coin VAL
ued at 1900. 1000. for account in Eu-
rope. The agents of the ship in Ger
mand sent her a code message which
apparently referred only to mem
Der OF the family of the captain of
the vessel. II was understood, how
ever, and the ship turned back. She
was lost for several days, and 1t
! was supposed that she had been cap
! tured by one of the cruisers OF the
British North Atlantic squadron. AS
matter OF fact, her course would
take her near the cruising areas of
British ships of war. She, however.
Unanswered out of sight and took
advantage of a fog to dash back
recklessly to the United States
coast She loomed out of a fog one
morning off Bar Harbor and was
safely within the three mile limit of
| the United States. She was watched
continually by the British and French
cruisers and SO successfully that she
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