AMERICA'S FIRST REAL WAR CASUALTY
SINKING OF THE ANTILLES NATIONAL SPIRIT HARDENED Washington, October 21. . The American transport reported on Saturday to have been torpedoed rnd sunk was the Antilles, a 19-knot steamer, of GB7B tons, owned by the Southern Pacific Company (Lloyd s Register gives the speed of the Antilles as 15 knots). The news of the occurrence came as ft shock. It conveyed the first Teal American casualties, and force.! on the people the realisation that the nation iB at war. Reports show that 33 men who had enlisted in tho Army were on. board, and that 17 of them were saved. The third engineer and two officers perished. 'It is believed that all the 70 who are missing aro dead. One hundred and saitysQven were sa.vod. The newspapers point out that the sinking of tho vessel will consolidate the support for President Wilson, defeat the obstructionists, end give a fillip to the "Liberty loan." Vice-Admiral Sims forwarded the news ;of the sinking. The Antilles was tonToyed by the United States patrol vessels, but the XT-boat was not seen. The torpedo struck the vessel abreast the engine-room, and the Antilles sank in five minutes. engine-room staff trapped. New York, October 21. The New York "World's" Washington correspondent says it is believed; that the suddenness of the explosion on the Antilles trapped the men in the engineroom, wlio perifihed. Tho attack was made Troll out to sea. high, officers were on board. The men showed perfect discipline. The New Yoik newspapers comment that it was fortunate the Antilles v-as bound to America, otherwise the deathroll would have been heavier N.Z. Cable Assn.
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Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 24, 23 October 1917, Page 5
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273AMERICA'S FIRST REAL WAR CASUALTY Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 24, 23 October 1917, Page 5
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