Evening star., 1918-05-25
Nearly All Slain as They Slept
in Transit on MoIdavia,
Two Are Drowned.
SURVIVORS CALMLY
TAKE TO LIFEBOATS
Armed Merchant Troop Vessel
Goes Down on Southeast Coast
of England.
By the Associated Press.

Edwin and Clyde Bosley OF Nortn
Troy. Vt. leaped from the deck and
were drowned. Had 1t not been for
this the losses would have been confined
to those killed by tho explosion Of the
torpedo.
The Bosley brothers were on guard
when the ship was struck. There was
a sharp list, and they evidently be-
lieved she was turning over. Search
was made for them. but they were not
seen after they jumped overheard.
II was first reported that hfty-six
Americans were missing.
Text Of Statement.
The text Of the admiralty state
ment follows:
1.-THE armed mercantile cruiser Mol
davia was torpedoed and sunk yes
terday morning.
There were no casualties among
| the crew. but of the American troops
on board f1fty-six, up to the present.
| have not been accounted for. 1t is
feared they were killed in one COM
partment by the explosion"
The Moldavia was torpedoed with
out warning. 1t was a moonlight
| night. and although a good lookout
was kept, Ine ATTACKING submarine
| was not sighted before the torpedo
struck.
Most Of the men aboard were in their
hammocks when the explosion occurred
amidships. The sailors and soldiers alike
showed no panic They fell calmly into
all of their belongings, but were sup
piled with new clothing at the different
| naval ports where they were taken.
Sleeping on Bottom Deck.
It is believed that the American SOL
diers missing from the Moldavia were
| sleeping on the bottom deck and were
overtaken by the great thrush of water
after the explosion, when they were
trying to reach the main deck. 1t also
is presumed that some of the ladders
were destroyed.
The vessel was struck below the bridge.
She steamed AHEAD for some time after
being struck, and at frst it was hoped
tAat her watertight compartments would
enable her to reach port
Survivors agree that the Moldavfa was
torpedoed and not mined. One seaman
We were proceeding up the channel
bound for an English port early
Thursday morning. The weather waa
nne and there was bright moonlight.
We felt an explosion amidships. The
ship had been struck Just below the
bridge. but we could see no SUBJ
marine.
There were come destroyers con-
voying US and they at once scattered
around in search of the submarine,
Only one torpedo was fred.
when 1t was realized that we should
have to abandon the vessel the de-
stroycrs came alongside to take off
the troops"
American omcer's Story.
Capt. johnson. an American officer
who was on board the Moldavia. gave
a Daily Telegraph representative this
| account of the sinking:
The ship was struck just forward
Of the engines on the port side. All
the troops were in their hunks sleep
ing in their uniforms. There was a
loud explosion and then the ships
| whistle was blown, which was a sig
nal for everybody to come on deck
The men had been assigned to par
ticuiar boats and boat drill had been
held every day. The men assembled
| splendid. the best I ever saw.
THE Moldavia listed to port, but
righted herself. and ran on for about
fifteen minutes to avoid being hit
again. Then she began to sink stead
| lily. Orders were given to lower the
boats and RATS and we got of.
Depth Charges Dropped.
| 'Destroyers had been circlins around
US all the time, and as soon as the
Moldavia was struck they dropped sew
eral depth charges. No second torpedo
was fired and we saw nothing Of the
submarine. We remained in the life
boats until the ship sank, when we
were taken on board the destroyers.
"As soon as the men got aboard the
boats and RATS they began laughing
and singing. and when the ship sank
they gave three cheers
"Of the hfty-four missing, two are
corporals and the others privates. /
believe all were killed by the explo-
sion."
Like Sinking Of Tuscania.
The Moldavia was Of $500 tons gross