JAPANESE WARSHIPS TO THE RESCUE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3155, 6 August 1917, Page 6

JAPANESE WARSHIPS TO THE RESCUE

THOUSANDS OF BRITISH SAVED. Of ltlie British soldiers and nua-ses saved from the Transylvania, the transport which was torpedoed in the Mediterranean on May 4, the great majority owe their safety' to tho line rescue work of Japanese destroyers. One destroyer alone saved 1000 of the survivors. It will be recalled that Sir E. Carson recently announced that Japan is co-oper-ating with our naval forces in those waters. . , , The Transylvania was carrying about 4000 troops. Four hundred and thirteen lives were lost. She was 20 miles from land when attacked. Several Japanese destroyers raced to the rescue. They lay alongside the sinking .transport, on the deck of which the tioops, in perfect calmness, were drawn up.' The men were rapidly transferred, and boats containing tho nurses were lowered. After about °0 minutes of rescue work a second torpedo struck the transport, which sank in about an hour., One of the destroyers circled round the scene and picked up a large number of survivors from the boats and from the sea. Later other vessels arrived and' rendered aid, but by this time the great bulk of tho survivors were safe in Japanese destroyers, every part of their decks being crowded with nurses and soldiers. Several officers and nurses from tlio Transylvania have called at the Japanese naval headquarters in London to express their deep appreciation of all the kindness they experienced. The oSicer in command of the Japanese flotilla has placed on record his admiration ot the silence, and calmness" of the men in the sinking ship and the courage of the nurses.