Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-07-05
HOSPITAL SHIP SUNK
More than Two Hundred Go to the

More than Two Hundred Go to the
Bottom.
y thorough search of the waters in
the vicinity of the spot where the
Canadian hospital ship Llandovery
Castle was sunk by q German subma-
- - .iis.,iIls.1-x.ii.-
further survivors being found. An
official statement issued by the admir-
atty says it may br assumed that only
- out of the 25S persons on board
were saved.
The admiralty statement says:
THE area between the spot where
the Llandovcry Castle was sunk and
the southwest Irish coast has been
thoroughly searched by two groups OF
his majcstys ships in addition to the
destroyer l.ysandcr. Only little
wrcckagc and one empty boat were
found. II may he assumed that there
are no more survivors from the Lland
ovcry Castle
Mai r. Lyon of tho Canadian medi-
cal corps. who suffered such severe
treatment when nc was taken from
the captains boat and dragged aboard
the German submarine, has been
brought to hospital in London.
Il dread to think what would have
happened to an American officer had
he been in my Shoes" said Major Lyon
today. He then related to the Asso-
ciatcd Press his experiences with the
Germans.
"Thc Germans" he said. seemed
obscsscd with the idea that Ameri-
can aviators were aboard. and it took
us some time to convince them other
wise.
Captain Sylvester. master Of the
hospital ship. went aboard the sub
marin" first. remaining perhaps five OF
ten minutes. Then they came after
me. The second officer Of the sub
marine grabbed me by the hand and
| was jcrked aboard. a bone in my
foot being broken.
81 learned afterward that the Ger
mans had questioned Sylvester as to
whether wireless messages had been
dispatched. asking for assistance and
about American flying officers. / was
taken to the coming tower and finally
they sent me back to the life boat
my story having Tailed with that OF
Sylvester.
Only Wanted Pretext.
This seemed to surprise the Ger
mans AZ they pretended to be sure
that aviators were aboard. I have my
doubts about this belief being genu-
inc, my idea being that the Germans
simply seized this as pretext for the
torpedoing Of the Llandovery Castle
Major Lyon was propped up in bed
Apparently his foot panied him and
the interview seemed to annoy him
slightly. 4 handsome young wounded
British officer just from the front. was
amused at Lyons calmness in telling
of the disaster. and his eagerness tc
get the interview over with.
Major Lyon related how the Ger.
mans questioned the ships second of.
ficcr at length regarding the explosion
as the vessel sank.
The Germans apparently had before
hand information. as the commander
of the submarine. said Major Lyons
had asked about eight flying officers
Eight medical officers had intended tc
make the trip. but one did not sail al
the last minute because of illness.
Finally the second officer returned
to the lifeboats, and the submarine
began running down the wreckagt
and any floating object.
"The submarine" continued Major
Lyon "a little later made for us, miss
ing our stern by two feet. l believv
the Germans tried to ram us but why
they did not shell us or run down we
could not understand. After our ex-
perience all agreed that their first in
tention was to sink without trace bu,
why they spared Us Is inexplicable IN
less 1t was because most Of the sur
vivors are men Of the sea and they
tell us there Is a sort Of free masonry
among them.