The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-01-01


7Jnited States cruisers Columbia and
- YES Moines, the transport Mallory,
hospital ship Solace, six Destroy
sand five tugs. The tugs went
lWngside the Northern Pacific, took
aboard the troops and transported
II the sick to the Solace and the Mall
lory. and the well to the cruisers and
destroyers.
Heavy Fog Responsible.
On the Northern Pacific, which is
" navy transport of S,255 tons gross,
were 1,679 troops who are wounded
or sick. 625 troops who are well, II
navy nurses, rs sailors, 70 army cas-
ual officers and IL naval casual Off
cSy4Hin all 2,4S0 men and women.
Latef'Ain the forenoon the sea be-
came rougheg, but reports from Fire
Island said theAtransport did not ap-
( pear to be in any danger. The ves-
{ sci was rolling heavily. The Northern
yPacific's position is directly opposite
the. naval radio station. Embarka-
ton officials at Hoboken expressed
the opinion that the heavy fog was
entirely responsible for the trans
ports plight.
Sailed Christmas Day.
Washington, Jan. 1.-The trans
port Northern Pacific, aground off
fire Island. sailed from France
christmas day with 2.400 troops, in
hiding the Eighth trench mortar
artery of the Eigh h division. and
large number of sick and wounded
and casuaIs. The identity of the
other units aboard was not given in
dispatches from France to the war
department.
Coast guards from three nearby
stations had not been able to estab-
lish direct communication with the
Northern Pacific at II o'clock this
morning. The water is rough and
it has become impossible to brave the
waves in lifeboats.
Two attempts We're made to reach
the transport with life lines so as to.
take the wounded soldiers off. Both
failed, however, as the lines snapped.
The transport is aground on a sand
bar but it is in no immediate dam
ger, according to Capt. Albert Ma
honey, commanding the life guards.
Nurses Put in Tug.
In the breeches buoy the uninjured
men were brought ashore while the
wounded and nurses were being re-
moved in tugs and small boats to a
rescue fleet which, including cruisers
and destroyers, was sent from the
i army embarkation port, Hoboken, In
response to n wireless message re-
tccfvcd from the stranded transport.
4 Plans for, care of the soldiers
kaboard the Northern Pacific, espe-
fcially the wounded, were put into op-
Feration by Rear Admiral Usher of
the third naval district. The Red
Cross and women's motor corps or
ganizations were notified to send am
balances and supplies to the United
States naval air station at Bay
shore. near Fire Island, and to he
prepared for the emergency of the
troops being landed there.
Vainly Try TO Reach Ship,
After trying vainly all day to reach
the stranded American troop transport
Northern Pacific, which went ashore
this morning near Fire Island, a crew
of the coast guard reached her in a
lifeboat shortly before pm. The crew
went ahead and at that hour the boat
was still alongside.
Not In Immediate Danger.
Prospects of getting the Northern Pa
cfic off were lessened during the after
noon, but those aboard ware not consid-
cred in immediate danger A rough
sea was pounding the stranded vessel
and a south wind was forcing her
deeper into the sand.
Attempts of coast guard crews to
shoot lines to the vessel proved futile
/, up to early afternoon c:i account of the
wind. Destroyers arr other craft stood
hy outside.