Evening journal., 1918-07-02
j Sinks HOSPITAL
SHIP: 234 MISSING
Vessel, With Red Cross
Lights, 1'orpedoed at Night
Without Warning
ONLY "a SURVIVORS
HAVE REACHED PORT

LONDON, July "A German subma-
rfne seventy miles from the Irish coast
on the night OF June 27 torpedoed the
1900 ton hospital ship Llandovery
castle, which had been chartered BY
the Canadian government and had been
IN the service OF carrying wounded and
SICK from England TO Canada for many
months past. The ship was then on
her way to England She had on board
2oS persons, including eighty men Of
the Canadian army medical corps and
fourteen women nurses
Up to the latest reports only twenty
-FOUR OF those on board, including the
captain, have survived the treacherous
attack, which came without warning
The submarine commander, who or
dered the captain OF the Llandoyery
Castle, several OF his officers and Ma
jor Lyon, Of the medical corps aboard,
declared that he had sunk the ship
because she was carrying American
aviation officers and others in the
fighting service OF the Allies. He add
ed to this later by asserting that the
vessel was carrying munition stores,
because an explosion which had occur
red aft.
One OF the boats OF the hospital ship
Llandovery Castle containing twelve
nursing sisters. was seen to cspslze,
according to latest information. The
sisters were drowned.
II is assumed that the fourteen nurs-
ing sisters reached a llfeboat, but so
far as is known there was no trace Of
them after the ship sank.
According TO Red Cross information
many were killed in the engine rooms.
There was hardly any doubt OF this, as
there was no response to Captain Syl-
vester's signals from the bridge after
the torpedo struck.
As the enginemen were either killed
or left their posts, there was no one
to shut of the power and the ship
kept on her way despite the great
holes torn by the torpedo, not begin
ming to slow down until the waters
rushed into the boiler room, extln-
gushing the fires.
This added to the confusion in
launching the llfeboats. There was
no panic, however, and by the time the
Llandovery Castle lost her momentum
most OF the boats were over the side. /
Those above decks began climbing into
them In good order.
Many were unable 20 reach the boats |
aad the ship was sinking rapidly. They |
Jumped into the sea. A few OF them
were picked up.
According 10 information received by |
the Canadian Red Cross here. Major /
Lyon. from the LlandOvery Castle. was
forced to stand In the coming tower, 4
despite an injured foot. while the Ger
man submarine officers questioned him, |
The Germans insisted that Major Lyon |
was an aviation oflcer. despite the ON I
GERS strenuous denjsls. The Germans
even threatened to shoot Major Lyon, /
contending that be was an officer OF
the fighting unit. not a medical officer. /
The British Admiralty tonight issued 1
an Official statement on the sinking OF
the Canadian hospital ship Llandovery
Castle. as follows:
"Germany's awful debt 10 the world
continues 10 grow. Another hospital
ship has been torpedoed, this time sew
enty miles from the nearest land. and
her people turned .sdrift in their boats
to sink or swim as best they might.
And though, as II happened she was
a Canadian hospital ship returning from
Halifax with no wounded aboard. the
tale Of crime reveals wsnton delibera-
tIon on the part Of the submarine com
mander, and almost suggests the hope
on his part that he would find her full
OF injured and helpless men.
"The Llandovery Castle, r. A. Syl-
\ ester, master. was chartered by. the
anadian Government TO convey their
sick and wounded from England to
Halifax. The Llandoyery Castle had
on board total Of 25s persons, in
cludlng eighty Canadian army medical
corps men and fourteen female nurses.
One boat containing twenty-four sur
vivors has reached port so far.
1T was during the night Of June q
toward 1890, that the crime occurred.
The Llandovery Castle, steaming on her
course at some fourteen knots. showed
the usual navigation and regulation
hospital ship lights. Under the over
cast SKY she was plain to see and could
not be mistaken for anything but what
she was-a ship immune by every law
pf war and peace from attack or mo
bstation.
No Warning OF Torpedo.
''No one on board saw the wake OF
he torpedo. The FIRST intimation OF
,le presence OF a submarine was jar
aud the roar Of an explosion from aft.
Then the lights went out.
"All that followed. save when dim
light was obtained from an emergency
iynamo, just before the ship foundered,
.ook place In the darkness. The en-
yines were rung once TO stop, then full
speed astern. But from the engine room
came no answer.