LOSS OF THE TRANSYLVANIA.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1749, 21 August 1917, Page 1

LOSS OF THE TRANSYLVANIA.

RESCUE AVORK BY THE JAPANESE. A recent cable message stated that decorations had been conferred*'on Japanese officers and men in recognition of the splendid services of Japanese destroyers last .May in rescuing troops and nurses from the troopship Transylvania. The report, of tin l .Japanese admiral speaks in (he highest terms of the perfect order maintained and the courage di.-played hy troops, nurses and others on board the transport. Of these the majority, according to the British officer in command, wore saved hy Japanese destroyers. All wore drawn np in perfect order on the after-part of the transport. The Japanese report states that the troopship was proceeding to her destination escorted by Japanese destroyer’s, when during the forenoon a torpedo was launched against (lie Transylvania from a submarine which was bidden behind a sailing vessel. It struck (ho troopship in the forepart. One of the Japanese destroyers proecedod at full speed alongside the vessel, and at once began (be rescue of (hose on board. When she had taken 500 off, (he Japanese officer saw a, second torpedo, and (bis crashed into the afterpart of the Transylvania. The second torpedo caused an explosion and many casualties among men who were at the moment leaving the Transylvania. The destroyer thought it prudent to sheep* off with the rescued she had on board. Other .lapanc-e destroyers were on the scene, and two of them fired on a periscope, with unknown result. Other Japanese destroyers came alongside the Transylvania, and took off over 1,000 troops. The first destroyer had in the meantime proceeded to land her JOO troops, and the other vessel with her 1,000 survivors did likewise. The two vessels subsequently returned to continue the work of rescue. By (bis time (be Transylvania had sunk, and .Allied destroyers and trawler.-- were on Ibc scene.