Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-02-09
EVENTS OF WEEK

EVENIS Uf a WEEK
The sinking Of the transport Tuscania while on her
way to 4 European port with some two thousand Amer
lean soldiers was a feature Of the weeks news in which
the whole attention Of the American people has been
absorbed. The subject is one of current news, and the
reports which are received daily bring additional details
and present changes in the estimates of the number lost
from time to time. hence it is impossible at this time
to state the exact number Of our men who lost their lives
in the sinking. AS this is written the number is esti-
mated at about 200, and this, of course, is subject to
change. Because Of the fact that men rescued from the
sinking ship were landed at different ports on the coasts
OF Ireland and Scotland arriving at these different places
at different times, there have been wide variations in
the numbers stated. The first report sent, in all probable
ity. after the first load Of rescued had reached the shore,
placed the number Of dead at about 1000. Later re-
ports have so greatly reduced this number that the feel
ing of relief has gone far toward counterbalancins the
feeling of sadness caused by the tragedy itself.
The Tuscania was a British liner, used, as many
others have been, for transport purposes. She is under
stood to have been one of a number of such vessels, all
being conveyed by the usual number Of destroyers and
other swift craft. Only fraEmentarys statements have
been made Of the details Of the sinking, but it is agreed
that the work was done by {. German submarine which
had in some way succeeded in slipping through or under
the Gordon Of guard ships. 1t has been stated that the
submarine itself was destroyed by a bomb from one Of
the destroyers, but this statement is not official,
y =
This is the first transport to be sunk while carrying
troops to Europe since the beginning of the war, and
while the loss of even the small number of men now
unaccounted for has caused a feeling Of sadness, the
incident has also focused attention on the remarkable
fact that during a period Of three years close to three
quarters Of a million men have been carried across the
A n nfic ,n1Ap all eondit;no % o>..>. .-a ->.4L..
without the loss of a man until this time, in spite of the
the attack, and had made numerous attempts to send
transports to the bottom. This fact speaks volumes for
the effectiveness of the British patrol and conveys, re-
,inforced as they have been in the past year by the
American squadron which went across last May.
1t was announced toward the close Of last week that
last Monday might be the last of the "heatless" Mon
days ordered by the fuel administration, but the contin-
uance of extreme cold through the east placed the pro-
posed suspension of the order out Of the question. Since
the first outburst Of adverse criticism which followed
the issuance Of the fuel closing order there has been a
rather srudging acceptance of the order. and a marked
decrease in the volume of denunciation. Press comment.
however, indicates anything but a feeling Of satisfaction,
and occasional paragraphs in many papers indicate a
disposition to mold the fuel order in reserve as the basi
for further criticism when opportunity offers. In the
meantime the Canadian government has just issued an
order similar in character, and papers on this side which
have defended the order Of Dr.. Garfield have pointed
out that under conditions generally similar to our own
the Canadians have accepted the order Of their govern.
ment practically without protest.
.
The hearings before the senate military committee
haye been resumed, and Secretary Baker has been sub.
teeted to some rather lively cross questioning. The at
teek on the secretary has this time been led by Senator
Hitchcock. who has revived some the charges formerly
made against the conduct Of the war. Most Of the dir.
cassion has revolved around features which, in relation
70 the main issues, may be considered of minor i'm.
portance.
The question of shipping for carrying the troop,
satross the water has occupied a good deal Of attention
IN his earlier statement Mr.. Baker said that the United
u mates would have half a million men in France nj
1Feperly equipped early this year. and that another mil.
lion would be ready for foreign service b. the end OF
the year. Watcher or not the large nunsbsr vould a..
Sfaa1ly b - France " the end 81 the year depended
70 the sserstarys statement, on the avsnatil
sty q shippias Tor transport purposes. He believed thu,
~ shipping would be reads. This prediction Of tn.
ilabilitys OF shipping was anplinsd in the cross sxann..
4inAtt4a, and, While dstslls were not rtven. s>..S