TORPEDOED TRANSPORT.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 October 1917, Page 3

TORPEDOED TRANSPORT.

ATTACKED WELL OUT AT SEA.

FIRST WAR CASUALTIES

WASHINGTON, October 21. One hundred and sixty-seven were saved from the transport Antilles news of the sinking of which has been forwarded by Vice-Admiral Sims. The Antilles was convoyed by United States patrollers and tho U-Boat was not seen.

; The torpedo struck abreast the enj gine-room and the ship sank in five minutes. She was a nineteen knotter and was not a Ward liner being owned by the Southern Pasific Company. It is believed that tho suddenness of the explosion trapped men in the engineroom and they perished. The attack was made well out at sea. There were no high officers aboard. The men showed perfect diseipilne. New York newspapers comment that it was fortunate the Antilles was bound for America otherwise the death roll would have been much heavier. The news of the sinking of the transport came as a shock, a's it was the first instance of re&l casualties, and brought home to the nation the feet that it was war. Reports show that thirty-three United States army men were on board, of whom seventeen were saved. The third engineer and two officers perished. It is believed, that in all seventy who are missing perished. Newspapers point out that tho winking will consolidate support to the President to defeat the obstructionists and give a fillip to the Liberty Loan. Tho “New York Evening Post’s” Washington correspondent says that those who are insisting that, the United States should not fight a: defensive war on the sea, but urge that sho should induce the British to join in an attack on the submarine bases feel that tho sinking of tho Antilles will mean the ultimate change of the Allies naval policy. WASHINGTON, October 21. The Antilles incident will .result In more extensive convoys to and from the United States which wJHI spend one hundred millions dollars to estab lish an ordnance depot and arsenal for. tho United State Troops in Franco.