Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1918-02-07

was always a chance that troop ship
would stumble upon a lurking subma.
rine and the general belief tonight
was that this was what happened In
this case.
CAMP LEWIS, Feb. G.-Army off,
cials said that a number of men had
been sent from Camp Lewis to fill out
the 2Oth Engineers. Just how many
could not be stated tonight.
The Tuscania was a British freight
and passenger steamship of l,34S
tons gross register. She was built at
Glasgow in 1914 and was owned by
the Anchor line. The last report OF
the TusCania was her arrival at an At
lantic port January II last She was
SCI feet long with a &C foot beam and
was equipped to carry $500 passen-
gers. The ship had twin screws and
a speed OF LuOut IS knots She has
been made the object of submarine
attacks several times during the war
but was able TO escape by her speed
and some defense guns. She is the
NTH OF the Cunard line boats to be
lost since the war began. The Tus-
cania was sumptuously appointed
when first put into service. The pan
cling OF her main lounge room was in
olive wood inlaid with line OF syca-
more. The floors were OF polished
oak. 4 ycranda cafe and gymnasium
smoke rooms, dining salons and
novel system OF heating and yentila.
tion were features Of the ship. II Is
probable. however. that in view OF
the cNigcncics OF the situation that
the steamer had been stripped of
most Of her luxurious fittings in order
TO take as great number OF troops
as possible on each voyage.
Buncrnnna. at which survivors from
the TuscanIa were landed. IS located
on Lough Swllly on the northern coast
OF ireland. u miles from Londonderry
Lough Swilly Is a long narrow bay
running in from the Atlantic Ocean.
LarOn. where other survivors were
landed from the vessel. is on the
northeast coast OF Ireland % miles
from Belfast. II is a north channel
port Thc approximate distance be-
tween the two ports is 100 miles
LONDON. Feb. Later reports
| from the scene of the disaster say that
the condition OF the survivors of the
Tuscanla was most pitiable and that
in some cases men had been swim.
ming about for almost two hours be.
fore rescued, and that many had cast
aside all their clothing The vessel
itself remained aflOat about two hours
after the torpedo struck.
WASHINGTON, Feb. THE Twen.
ieth Engineers, known as the For
estcrs, is the largest regiment in the
world. although only one battalion
was on board the Tuscania. The work
OF the regiment Is indicated to be the
cutting Of timber in the French forest
for military uses at the front II is
thought that the failure OF the war
department TO include the British sur.
yiyOrs of the crew OF the vessel ac-
counts for the differences in numbers
rcpC ted Some speculation on the
part OF naval officers is taking place
as to whether or not the vessel struck
Il mine. The region indicated as the
scene OF the disaster Is one not fire.
qucntod by submarines but official
texts Of government announcements
say that the ship was torpedocd and
there Is nothing to indicate any error
in these formal announcements until
detailed accounts are received
LONDON. Feb. "A statement
from the admiralty today confirmed
earlier figures giving total number oi
persons on the Tuscania as 2,397 and
the saved as 2.1S7. The approximat,
, figures OF those saved are as follows
Omccrs, 76; men, 1895; officers oj
the crew, 16; men OF tho crew, 1876
Passengers. 3: not specified, 80.
WASHINGTON, Feb. The Tus
. cania now lies at the bottom of tn,
north Atlantic and at least 1853 troop