Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 90, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 February 1918 — SOLDIERS SING AFTER TUSCANIA IS TORPEDOED [ARTICLE]

SOLDIERS SING AFTER TUSCANIA IS TORPEDOED

Americans Sing “Star-Spangled Banner” and British “God Save the King.” OFFICER TELLS OF ATTACK Explosion Wrecks Some of the Small Boats and Others Are Crushed When Launched —Craft Remained Afloat Two Hours. Londonderry, Feb. 8. —The submarine which torpedoed the Tuscania was attacked by a destroyer. An American officer gave an intimation that the submarine was destroyed. This officer was next to the last to leave thq Tuscania. He gave' a vivid account of the disaster to a correspondent. The second torpedo fired by the submarine missed its jnark, he said. Thereupon a destroyer, which was near the sinking liner, dashed off toward the submarine, using a bombdropping device. The claim is made that the submarine was “done in” by the bombs thus exploded. When the Tuscania was hit the American troops were lined up at attention. As the transport showed a sharp list the Americans, to a man, began to* sing “My Country, ’Tis of Thee,” and “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The British crew, lined up on the other side of the ship, broke into “Gor Save the King.”

“Stood Like Soldiers.” The American officer said: “Everything went well with us during the voyage. Many of our men had never been to sea before, and I must say they stood like soldiers. “We were one of a powerful convoy. I 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 I 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. “Monday was a wild night. Had the disaster occurred <jluring a gale 1 don’t like to think of what would have happened. But Tuesday evening was calm. “Instantly Disabled." “The first intimation we had of possible danger was an order for all men to go on deck with life-belts. It 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 well in we got the blow. Nobody saw the periscope nor could one have been seen well. Some soldiers described having heard a hissing sound immediately before the torpedo -struck us in the engine room. “We were Instantly disabled. All the lights went out. An oraer rang out sending tlie troops to their boat stations and to get the lifeboats out. The shock was not severe. It was more of a crunching-in feeling that went through the ship than of a direct blow. “There Was No Panic.” “There naturally was a good deal of confusion. You cannot lower a score of lifeboats from the height of an upper deck in the darkness without some confusion, but at no time was there a panic. "There was great excitement, however, but it lasted only a few minutes. Then all the men pulled themselves together. Megaphone calls were given all oyer the ship, saying there was no danger that tlie- vessel would float till all were taken off. In the meantime S. O. S. signals were sent out. “Even before some of us had grasped the situation British destroy-ers-w-ere dashing up alongside. Such soldiers as had been lowered in lifeboats were put on board destroyers. A few men who jumped overboard in the first excitement were picked up. I believe one or two lifeboats were smashed In launching. “The destroyers took off our men In splendid style, with perfect order. “All this time the Tuscania was slowly sinking. For a minute I did not know whether to go into a lifeboat or to stick by the ship. One of the ipembers of tlie crew urged that we stay on board and trust John Bull’s destroyers. He yelled this in my ear. I took his advice and waited for my turn to come to go on board a destroyer. “No sooner had we cast off, with 500 men on board, than a torpedo was fired at us. It missed. Another destroyer dashed off, operating a bombdropping device, and the claim was afterward made that the submarine had been done In."