The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-02-08
AMERICAN TELLS Of
DEATH OF TUSCANIA
CONFUSION WHEN THE TORPEDO
STRUCK, AND ALL LIGHTS
WENT OUT-NO PANIC

London, Feb S.-How American sol
diers behaved when they found that the
boats assigned to them on the Tuscania
had been smashed, is told by
an American officer who landed
at Irish port. Two full boat
loads under his command assembled on
the deck when the torpedo struck the
liner and marched to the boats assigned
them. Arriving at their station, they
found that both boats had been de-
stroyed.
The men lined up on deck at at
tention," said the officer, "and all pre-
served the utmost composure until
destroyer came alongside and effected
the transfer from the gradually sinking
deck
We stood alongside until the last
man was taken off, who, as might be
expected, was the commander Of the
ship. The patients in the ships hospital
were among the first taken Off
81 must not tell you our position in
the convoy or how the various ships
were formed, but you may take it that
all the other boats have got through as
far as l know. As for ourselves well,
the Huns succeeded in getting only a
fraction of our fine fellows in addition
to our boat; but if they have they have
put the iron into our souls, and we will
be ready to repay them when the chance
offers.
The first intimaton we had Of pos
sible danger was an order for all men
to go on deck with life belts. 1t was
about 4:30 o'clock At the same time
we sharply altered our course. At six
o'clock, Just as the darkness was setting
periscope, nor could one have been seen
we'll Some soldiers described having
heard a Kissing sound Immediately be-
fore the torpedo struck.
I'VE were instantly disabled. An the
lights went out. An order rang out
selling the troops to their boat sta
tions and to get the lifeboats out The
shock was not severe. It was more Of
crunchng.in feeling that went through
the ship than Of a direct blow. There
naturally was a good deal Of confusion.
You cannot lower a score Of lifebOats
from the height of an upper deck in
but at no time was there a panic. There
was great excitement however, but
II lasted only a few minutes. Then all
the men pulled themselves together.
Megaphone calls were given all over
the ship, saying there was no danger,
that the vessel would not sink before all
were taken Off. In the meantime wire
less S. O. $. signals were sent out
DestrOycrS TO the Rescue.
"Even before some Of us had grasped
the situation, British destroyers were
dashing up alongside. Such soldiers as
had been lowered in lifeboats were put
on board destroyers A few men who
jumped overheard in the first excite
ment were picked up. I believe one
or two lifeboats were smashed in launch
ing.
"The destroyers took Off our men in
splendid style with perfect order.
"An this time, the Tuscania was
slowly sinking For a minute ! did not
know whether to go into a lifeboat OF
to stick by the ship.
zone of the members Of the crew
urged that we stay on board and trust
John Bulls destroyers. He yelled this
in my ear. I took his advice and waited
for my turn to come to 90 on board q
destroyer.
mo sooner had we cast off, with SOC
men on board, than torpedo was freC
At us. 1t missed Another destroyer
dashed Off operating a bomb-droppinG
device, and the claim was afterwards
made that the submarine had beer
done in"
Favorable Hunting Grounds.
Both the north and south entrance!
OF the Irish Sea have been favorable
hunting ground for German submarine.
of the big fighting type of mine-layers
Both kinds of boats have been oper
ating off the entrance to the Mersey-
the gateway to Liverpool-a German
publication some time ago giving ;
description of minelaying operations
conducted only a short distance from
that port.
The African liner Apapa, sunk il
December, was torpedoed only fort,
miles from her destination, Liverpool
The most formidable German sub
marines of which there is any deinit
record were armed with the new IL
centimeter 6.9-inch) guns brought ou
during the war, which is a more power
full longer ranged gun than the II
centimeter gun mounted in the mail
batteries of the German light cruiser
at the outbreak Of the war.
The next submarine carried two o
the guns forward and aft A great dea
has been heard in the press neutra
and belligerent, of giant fve-thousant
ton "submersible cruisers" but none o
these has been definitely identified, az
cording to the latest information il
possession of the correspondent, no
has there been any trustworthy new
from Germany that the admiralty wa
laying down any boats of tonnag
representing such a jump from the si2
Of the most modern submarine opel
ating during the late summer and al
tumn.