The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-07


First Drafted Men TO Go Over.
National army troops transferred
to, the guard to bring the division to
war strength were included in the
units. If any of these are lost they
will be the first soldiers called to the
colors by CONSUMPTION to die overseas.
1t was grim coincidence that the
news of the Tuscania disaster should
follow rapidly on the heels of state
ment by the Secretary of the Navy
Daniels that the war against the u
boat is being won" and announcement
in London that the United States is
"waging successful campaign against
the U-boat' with new devices. Owing
to the fact that the Tuscania is Brit
ish ship it is believed the United States
did not have vessels in her convoy.
The first word of the attack, /indi-
eating thousand Americans had been
lost reached here last night. Secretary
of War Baker and Secretary Daniels
were both in their offices when the
news came in. 1t was held up for
some time in the hope that later ad-
vices would show a greater number of
survivors.
Newsboys Inform President.
President Wilson was at the theater
when the news broke over the city.
shouted extras announcing the heavy
toll in American lives greeted him as
he emerged from the foyer with Mrs.
Wilson. ~
Reaching the White House. he
called both Baker and Daniels for
full account of the disaster
The shock of early bad reports was
modified by later more encouraging
messages indicating the>loss of life wa 9
not so heavy as first believed ~ ~ is
now clear that conveys and patrol
poats were near at hand for survivors
have been landed at widely separated
points on the Irish coast.
This fact held out hope today that
VI the Zei or more mon yet to be ac-
sa1ely landed at an obscure place on
the coast No mention has bean made
thus far of the vessels crew.
Inc fact that the transport was un-
der convoy leads to the belief here
that sharp fight with the enemy
may nave occurred before or after
the Tuscania received her death blow
Expected Drive on TRANSPORTS.
Great preparation had been made
for the German assault on transports
Tor some time. Lord Northcliffe
thru the press, warned of the German
preparations several months ago.
Early last week army officials here
anticipated the concerted U-boat eff
fort when the Germans withdrew their
submersibles for refitting. Last Mon
day Secretary of War Baker in his
weekly review declared that the drive
against Pershing's transports was i'm
pending.
The Tuscania was British passen-
ger and freight ship of 1850 tons
massive mark for the U-boat She
has been under charter to the Cunard
line and is the fifth great vessel oper-
ated by the company to be lost. Altho
several hundred thousand troops have
been transported across the sea to
France from the United States, the
Tuscania is the first to be torpedoed
en- route to the baltic lines Several
American transports have been tor
pedoed on their way back to this
country.
Land Mt Irish Ports.
Buncranna, where the first survivors
from the Tuscania landed, is located
on the northern coast of Ireland on a
long, narrow bay running in from the
Atlantic. Larne, where other sur
vivors landed, is nearly 100 miles from
Buncranna on the northeast coast of
Ireland, twcnty-three miles from Bel
fast.
Sinking Occurred Tuesday.
London, Feb. THE troop ship
Tuscania, carrying American soldiers,
was sunk Tuesday, it was learned here
today.
British Report 2,011 Rescued.
London, Feb 1.-Two hundred and
ten persons were lost in the torpedoing
of the trop ship Tuscania last Tues
day, it was learned here today.
Latest reports received here de-
, clared that 2,1s7 survivors had been
landed.
The Tuscania. it was announced
here, carried 119 officers and 2,037
| men. Of these 76 officers and 1895
men were reported saved. Later fig
| officers saved and decrease the num-
her of men. it was declared.
In addition to the officers and sol
diers rescued were Is ship officers
| 1875 members of the crew, passengers
and 80 undesignated-
Other Ships May Hold Survivors.
Washington, Feb. Hope and be-
! lief that the list of lost on the Tus-
CANA will be greatly reduced by later
reports was expressed today by Brig
adler General Mcintyre of the war de-
partment. The general said there
were many ships in the vicinity of the
| sinking and that this fact, when these
ships have all reported. may reduce
the American losses to. a minimum
, Five Kansas Citians on Liner.
Kansas City. Feb. Five former
| company of Kansas City were mem
| bers of the Sixth battalion of the
| Twentieth engineers, which was
aboard the transport Tuscania, Off
Gals of the company announced to-
day. No word had been received here
! as to whether the men had been res
cued.
About forty employees of the COM
| pany are members of forestry regi-
ments, a number of them being in
other battalions of the Twentieth
| company officials said.
HAD MADE MANY TRIPS.