Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1918-02-08
SOLDIERS SING
AS TRANSPORT
IS GOING DOWN
Troops on Tuscania Sing "Star
Spangled Banner"
OFFICER TELLS OF DISASTER
Declares British Destroyers Rushed to
the Rescue Soon After Torpedo Hit
Liner-Number of Men Who
Leaped Overheard Are
Saved.

saved.
Londonderry, Feb. 8.-The submar-
inc which torpedoed the Tuscaria was
attacked by destroyer.
An American officer gave an inti-
nation that the submarine was de-
stroyed
This officer was next to the last to
leave the Tuscania. He gave a vivid
account Of the disaster to CORE
spondent
The second torpedo fired by the sub
marite missed its mark, he said.
'fhereupon destroyer, which was
near the sinking liner. dashed off to-
ward the submarine, using bomb
dropping device.
The claim is made that the sub
marine was done in by the bombs
thus exploded
When the Tuscania was hit the
American troops were lined up at at
tention. AS the transport showed a
sharp list the Americans, to a man,
began to sing MY Country, IT'S OF
Thee" and THE Star-Spangled Ban
ner." The British crew. lined up on
the other side Sc the ship, broke into
Cor Save the King
"stood Like soIdiers.v
The American officer said:
Everything went we'll with vas dur
Ing the voyage. Many of our men had
never been to sea before. and must
say they stood like soldiers.
''We were one of powerful con-
voy. must not tell you our position
in the convoy or how the various ships
were formed, but you may take it that
all the other boats have got through,
as far as know.
'.As for ourselves, wei, the Huns
succeeded in getting only fraction of
our fine fellows III addition to our boat /;
but If they have 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 d gale
don't like TO think Of what would have
happened But Tuesday eveSing was
calm.
..InstantIy Disabled"
''The first intimation we had of pos
sible danger was aa order for all men
to go on deck with life-belts. 1t was
about 4 80 o'clock At the same time
we sharply altered our course. At six
o'clock, just as the darkness was set
ting well in we got the blow. No
body saw the periscope nor could one
have been seen well. Some soldiers
described having heard Missing
sound Immediately before the torpedo
struck us in the engine room.
I'VE were instantly disabled. All
the lights went out. An oruer rang
out sendjag the troops to their boat
stations and to get the lifeboats out.
The shock was not severe. II was
more of crunching-in feeling that
went through the ship than of d.
rect blow.
There Was Mo Panic"
There naturally was good deal of
confusion. You cannot lower score
of lifeboats from the height of an
upper deck in the darkness without
some confusion. but at no time was
there a panic.
There was great excitement. how
ever. but it lasted only a few min
utes. Then all the men pulled them
selves together Megaphone calls
were given all over the ship, saying
there was no danger that the vessel
would float till all We're taken off.
In the meantime S. o. S. signals were
sent out.
Even before some of us had
grasped the situation British destroy
ers were dashing up alongside. Such
soldiers as had been lowered In life
boats were put on hoard destroyers.
A few men who jumped overheard in
the first excitement were picked up.
believe one or two lifeboats were
smashed In launching.
sThe destroyers took off our men
in splendid style. with perfect order.
"All this time the Tuscania was
slowly sinking. For a minute / did
not know whether to go into life
boat or TO stick by the ship. One of
the members of the crew urged that
we stay on board and trust John
Bulls destroyers. He yelled this in
my ear. / took his advice and waited
for my turn to come to so on board
destroyer.
mo sooner had we cast of, with 500
men on board, than a torpedo was
fired at us. 1t missed. Another de-
strover dashed off. operating a bomb
dropping device, and the claim was
afterwara made that the submarine
had been done In"
Pupils Saved From Fire.
Csiisan springs, KY. Feb. Causing