New-York tribune., 1918-05-26
Youngest U-Boat Survivor,
Aged 1, Son of Mission
ary, ON Same Ship
Apapa Sinking Story
Pew. D. G.. Babcock Describes
Disa ster in Which ~ Lost
Their Lives

AN ATLANTIC PORT, May 25.-An
;nnortant British mission, headed BY
y.;autenant Colonel Sir William Wise
man and Sir Richard Paget, reached
this country to-day on a large British
liner. The mission was composed of
shont fifteen member including mill
,ary and naval officers and diplomatic
representatives.
II is understood that the mission,
made up of specialists, has been sent
oyer by the British government to
assist in the speeding up of the train
mo Of American soldiers. Through ex-
nerience gained on the West front
these men Will be able to further ex
,ed;te the rate at which this country's
sohters are sent overseas. The mem
tsrs of the body would not discuss
,he;r errand here and went directly to
Washington.
On the same ship there arrived what
Is believed to be the youngest U-boat
surviuor-Master David Babcock, aged
one. He was accompanied by his two
brothers, Arthur and Foster, four and
twelve years old, respectively, and their
usrents, the Rev. D. C. Babcock and
Mrs. Babcock. DR.. Babcock, who had
been in Liberia, Africa, since 1905 as
missionary for the Seventh Day Ad-
yentists, was returning to his home in
g or,+ ~,
months ago, when the vessel, the
Apapa, was attacked at night.
A torpedo hit the Apapa on the port
side, opening up a large hole. The mis-
siouarv assembled his family on the
deck and started to carry them toward
a .l;feboat. One lifeboat was lowered
before they could get in--and their
tsrdiness saved their lives. While they
watched a second torpedo from the
invisible submarine hit the lifeboat,
wrecking it and killing all its occu-
pants, then splintered another boat in
The water. The missionary and his
family had just been bundled into
third boat. when the halliards were
cut by an excited sailor, and they were
ali pitched into the sea.
III haven't the faintest idea how we
we're saved" said DR.. Babcock. "The
heavy sea carried into the swirl of
the rapidly sinking vessel. The boat
keeled far over on one side just before
going down, and its tunnels hit the
remaining lifeboat. swapping it.
aWe were all tangled up in the
but was able TO keep the children on
The surface until we were rescued by
trawlers. The Apapa went down in
exactly twenty-five minutes from the
time she was hit, and seventy seven
of the passengers and crew lost their
lives
Two American medical officers, Major
William Fay, director of the American
Red Cross in Italy,, and Major R. P.
Smith, head of Red Cross unit in
Rumania, returned on the liner. Major
Fay was enthusiastic over the an
nouncement of Secretary of War
Baker that American troops would
soon be fighting on the Italian front.
Italian Morale Improved
"The morale there has improved
wonderfully since the debacle Of last
year." he said. "The encouraging pres
ence Of fighters from this country will
help make Italy an increasingly i'm
portant factor in winning the war"
THAI Italy is now planning steps to
foster the growing discomfort in Aus
tria was revealed by Lieutenant Robert
de Violini. Of the Italian army. Lieu
tenant de Violini declared that in many
Of the Austrian provinces sentiment
was strongly in favor of Italy and op-
posed to Germany.
These provinces, he said, are leading
the movement for peace. The Italian
govement will do its utmost, through
trained propagandlsts, to encourage
these sentiments, and it is to obtain
the cooperation Of this country in
working out the plan that Lieutenant
de Violini has come here.
Or. Schuyler S. Wheeler, president of
the Croker Wheeler Company, of Am
pere, n. j., returned aftersuccessfully
teaching blinded soldiers in France
and England to do electrical work.
blinded soldiers are now working in
the largest plants abroad.