Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-02-07

cOnsin infantry.
The report from the war department
pointed out that the Tuscania was
British steamship and not an American
transport. This was taken to mean that
the recent agreement of the British to
put all shipping facilities possible at
disposal of the United States for carry
ing soldiers, munitions and supplies al
ready had been put into effect.
Rough Seas Probable
Reports that survivors were being ta-
ken to Belfast led to the supposition
that the Tuseania was bound for Liver
pool by way of the north coast. 1t was
suggested by officials that rough seas
may have separated the vessel from its
convoy. Fear that survivors may be suf-
fering acutely from exposure is thought
to have prompted the American embassy
at London and Belfast officials to has
ten plans for the immediate relief of the
troops on their arrival at the Irish port
The ambassador sent an assistant mill
itary attache and another army officer
to Belfast, Ireland, the American en-
bassy at London cabled the state de.
partment at IL O'Clock last night.
Representatives of the American
Red Cross and the Y. M C. A. also
have gone with full power to spend all
the money needed and authorization
from the British Red Cross to use their
equipment at Belfast. The Lord Mayor
of Belfast is giving all the aid pos
sible. The latest information was that
1912 officers and men ON the Tuscania
were accounted for out of 2,173.'
afo 4a4a
The initial communication of the dis
aster by the war department was:
''The department has been officially
advised that the steamship Tuscania
was torpedoed and sunk and that survi-
vors numbering LOO as far as could be
ascertained at that time were landed at
Buncrana and Larne in Ireland. There
was total of 2,179 United States troops
on this vessel. Ne name of persons lost
has been reported to the war depart
ment and no names of survivors was
reported"
The fact that the Tuscania was the
first large troop ship to be torpedoed
on the Atlantic eastbound led officials
here to conclude that the expected
thrust Of the Germans against the I'M
tied States transports is on.
The names of survivors of the disaster
began to reach the war department by
cable from Belfast early this morning.
1t was announced that the names Will
be given out in their entirety in order
to prevent undue anxiety of relatives.
The initial list included twenty national
guard and regular army officers.
National army troops transports
transferred to the guard to bring the
division to war strength were included
in the units. If any of these are lost
they will be the first soldiers called to
the colors by conscrirtion to die over
seas.
1t was grim coincidence that the news
of the Tuscania disaster should follow
rapidly on the heels of statement by
Secretary Of the Navy Daniels that
"the war against U-boat is being won" "
and announcement in London that the
United States is "waging successful
campaign against the U-boat" with new
devices. Owing to the fact that the
Tuscania is a British ship, it is believ-
ed the United States did not have YES
sells in her convoy.
The first word of the attack, indicat-
ing a thousand Americans had been lost,
reached here last night. Secretary of
War Baker and Secretary Daniels were
both in their offices when the news
came in. 1t was held up for some time
in the hope that later advices would
show a greater number of survivors.
President Gets NEWS
President Wilson was at the theatre
4 olyo V
Shouted extras announcing the heavy
toll in American lives greeted him as he
emerged from the Foyer with Mrs. Will
son.
Reaching the White House, he called
both Baker and Daniels for full ac-
count of the disaster.
The shock of early bad reports was
modified later by more encouraging mes
sages indicating the loss of life was not
SO heavy as first believed.
1t is now clear that the conveys and
patrol boats were near at hand for sur
yiyors have been landed at widely sep
arated points on the Irish coast.
This fact also held out hope today
that of the 210 or more men yet to be
accounted for, some may have been safe
ly landed at an obscure place on the
coast. No mention has been made thus
far of the vessels crew.
May Have Had Fight.
The fact that the transport was un-
der convoy, leads TO the belief here that
sharp fight with the enemy may have
occurred before or after the Tuscania
received her death blow.
Great preparations had been made for
the German assault on transports for
some time. Lord Northcliffe througi,
the United Press, warned of the German
several months ago. Early
last week army officials here antieipat-
ed the concerted U-boat effort when the
Germans withdrew their submersibles
for re-fitting. Last Monday Secretary
of War Baker in his weekly review
declared that the drive against Per
shing's transports was impending.
Was British Liner.
The Tuscania was British passenger
and freight ship of 1880 tons--mas-
sive mark for the Uboat. She has been
under charter to the Cunard line and is
the fifth great vessel operated .by the
company to be lost. Although several
hundred thousand troops have been
transported across the sea to France
from the United States, the Tuscania is