Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-02
SUBMARINE SINKS
HOSPITAL VESSEL
Llandovery Castle, Bound From
Canadian Port for England,
Sunk Without Warning.
SEVENTY MILES FROM LAND
SO Far Only Twenty-Four of 258
Persons on Board Re-
ported Safe.
fBy Associated press1

LIN ocN, July IA German sub
marine. seventy miles from the Irish
coast. on the night OF June ~. tor
pedoed the 1i.000-ton hospital ship
i!ahdovcrE Castle. which had been
chartered by the Canadian government
and had been IN the service of carry
ing wounded and sick from England To
Canada for many months past. Tie
ship was then on her way to England
Sh" had on board 25S persons. inciud-
ing eighty men of the Canadian arm V
medical corps and fourteen female
nurses.
Up 10 the latest reports. Only twcn-
ty-four OF those on board. including
the captain, have survived the trcach-
crous attack. which came without
warning.
One or the boats of the hospital shir
containing twelve nursing sisters. was
seen 10 capsizc. according to latest
information. The sisters were drowned
HtN PIRATE SAYS
SHIP CARRIED MUNITIONS
The submarine commander. who or
dcred the captain of the Llandovery
Castle, several Of his officers and Ma
jor Lyon. of the medical corps. aboa rd
declared that he had sunk the ship
because she was carrying America
aviation officers and others in the fight
ing service of III" allies. He added
to this later by asserting that tho ves-
sci was carrying munition stores, DC
cause OF an explosion which had oc-
CURED aft.
All lights were burning when the
Llandovcry Castle was torpedocd. These
included huge electric cross over the
bridge and strings of white and green
lights on either side. The rsd crosses
on tn" sides OF the vessel also wer"
illuminated by electric lights
MANY MEN ARE
KILLED IN ENGINE ROOM
According TO Red Cross information,
many men were Killed in the engine
room. AS the enginemen were either
killed or LETT their posts, there was no
one To shut Off the power, and The
ship kept on her way, notwiihstand-
ing the great holes torn by the 'or
pedo. not beginning to slow down un-
ill tho water rushed into the boiler
room. eAtinguishng the h-ea.
This added TO the confusion in
launching the :ifenoats. There was no
panic. however, and by the time the
Llandovery Castle lost her momentum
mcst Of the boats were over the side.
Those above decks began climbing into
them IN good order. hut many were
unable to reach the boats, an! the ship
was sinking rapidly. They jumped into
tho sea. and = few Of them were pick
ed UH.
HUNS THREATEN TO
SHOOT MEDICAL. OFFICER
According to information received by
the Canadian Hed Cross here. Major
Lyon. from the llandovery Castle, was
forced to stand in the coming tower.
despite AN injured foot. while the Ger
man subma rinc officers questioned him.
The Germans insisted that Major Lyon
was an aviation officer notwithstand-
ing the officers strenuous denials. The
Germans even threatened to shoot
Major Lyon. contending that he was
an officer Of the fighting unit. not
medical officer.
The Admiralty report on the sink
ing describes the cruel treatment of
Major Lyon and declares that the sub
marine. after sinking the vessel. shelled
an unknown target, which the reports
indicate might have been the missing
boats.
CAPTAINS BOAT fithEsb
Up BY DESTROYER
The captains boat. containing the
survivors. was picked up by the de-
stroycr Lysander. the commander of
which has reported that he had found
no trace of the remaining five boats.
The Admiralty statement on the sink
ing of the hospital ship follows:
"Germany's awful debt to the world
continues 10 grow. Another hospital
ship has been torpcdocd, this time
seventy miles from the nearest land,
and her people turned adrift in their
boats to sink or swim. as best they
might.
NO WOUNDED WE'RE on
BOARD STEAMER
and although. as it happened, she
was a Canadian hospital ship. return
ing from Halifax. with no wounded
aboard. the tale OF crime reveals wan
ton deliberation on tho part of the
submarine commander and almost sug-
gests the hope on his part that he
would find her full of injured and
helpless men.
The Llandovery Castle. r. a. Syl-
vester, master. was chartered by thu
Canadian government to convey their
sick and wounded from England to
Halifax