Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 April 1915 — SHIP TORPEDOED; HOLLAND AROUSED [ARTICLE]

SHIP TORPEDOED; HOLLAND AROUSED

Steamer Katwijk With Cargo From U. S. Destroyed. CREW OF 23 IS SAVED Vessel at Anchor Near Home Port When Submarine Fires Torpedoes—British Ship Is Sunk —•Eleven Perish." ’ London, April 16. —Tremendous excitement has been aroused In Holland, according to dispatches received here, by the destruction of the Dutch government steamer Katwijk by a German submarine. The Katwijk was torpedoed at anchor off Noordhlnder lightship, Holland. She was of 2,046, tons, bound for Rotterdam from Baltimore with corn and cotton. Her cargo was government owned. The sinking of the Katwijk, coming on the heels of the seizure of the four Dutch trawlers, the St. Nicholas, Eentwee, Rynland and another as yet unidentified, by a German torpedo boat, which took them to Cuxhaven, has aroused the Dutch government to take hasty steps to demand immediate and complete reparation. Left Baltimore March 27. The Katwijk sailed from Baltimore on March 27. She had been chartered from her owners, Erhardt-Dekkers of Rotterdam, for this purpose by the queen’s government. She was anchored about seven miles off Noordhlnder lightship when struck. Her crew of 23 was rescued by the lightship. A German submarine has been hovering in the vicinity of Noordhlnder for several days, other vessels having been attacked there. An Exchange dispatch from Rotterdam says that the sinking of the Katwijk has caused the deepest resentment throughout Holland. Even German sympathizers have expressed disgust at the actions of German submarines in disregarding neutral flags. Dutch Flag Flying. When torpedoed the steamer was flying the Dutch flag at her masthead. The torpedo tore a huge hole in the vessel and set the ship afire. The crew tried desperately to save the vessel. A second torpedo put an end to their efforts. The men took to the boats and then for the first time observed the perisedpe of a submarine. Earlier in the day reports reached London of the sinking of the British steamer Ptarmigan by a German submarine In the same vicinity as the attack of the Katwijk. She sank within a few minutes, taking eleven of her crew of twenty-two down with her. Eleven were rescued by the lightship. The Ptarmigan had a tannage of 475 net. The admiralty announced that two British merchant ships, including the Harpalyce, were torpedoed by German submarines during the week ending April 14. The Harpalyce was sunk. The other vessel was towed to port. A dispatch from Christiania states that 300 mines have been washed ashore on the Norwegian coast and destroyed.