VILLE DE LA CIOTAT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2656, 30 December 1915, Page 5

VILLE DE LA CIOTAT

DETAILS OF THE SUBMARINE ATTACK Hi Telegraph—Fresa Association—Co pyrfjht (Reo. .Deoembor 29, 8.45 p.m.) Malta, December 29. TheJVillg de la Ciotat- had 135 passongers and 181 of a crew. While off Qreto at 10 o'clock in tlie morning alio sighted a Dutch steamor, and then a Greek vessel, and immediately a terrific explosion shook her from stem to stern. The torpedo made an enormous hole in • her stern; there-was a great inrush ot water, and simultaneously thero was an explosion. A submarine flying the Austrian flag appeared a few yards away. The general opinion is that one ol tho foreign vessels had covered the sufr- . marine. There was no panic. The crew lowered tho boats, and the passengers, with the greatest coolness,-gathered on declc. Fivo lifeboats and two _ rafta were, released. A boat containing women and children capsized, and all were drowned. ■Another was smashed at the ship's side. • ;The steamer's final plungo carried down a majority of the victims. Tho submarino waited till the vessel ■ sank, then circled the lifeboats, jeering . at -the survivors, saying "There is,a ' British steamer behind, and -will pick you up." Two hours later the Merol picked them up, although the submarine's wake was still visible. Apparently her torpedods were exhausted. The Merol s, provisions were insufficient for the 238 extra mouths, and , many spent Christmas Day on the shortest rations.