SUBMARINE SINKS A WHITE STAR LINER
FOUGHT FOR 24 HOURS
ELEVEN LIVES LOST
After a fight with a U-boat lasting for twenty-four hours, the White Star liner Justicia, of 32,000 tons, was torpedoed and sunk off the north coast of Ireland on Saturday. The ship carried no passengers, and a crew of between 600 and 700 men were saved with the exception of eleven men, who were killed by the explosion. The first torpedo struck the engine-room of the ship at two o’clock on Friday afternoon, and disabled her. Preparations were made for towing her to port, but before nightfall and during the hours of darkness she was again the subject of attack. In all ten torpedoes were fired, and about nine o’clock on Saturday morning two of them struck the Justicia and sealed her fate. She remained afloat until two o’clock in the day, and then foundered. The gunners on the liner kept up a gallant fight with the attacking submarine, and it is asserted by survivors that some of the torpedoes aimed at the liner were exploded by gunfire as they sped towards her.
A REMARKABLE DUEL
From Our Own Correspondent. Wednesday Night.
The first evidence of the presence of the submarines, of which there were eight, came on Friday afternoon at half-past two, when a torpedo struck the ship, and, entering the engine-room, did some damage. Happily, however, it was not serious, but in order to avoid any risk it was decided to make for the nearest port. A tug had taken up its position alongside the liner when further evidence of the presence of the submarines came in the shape of two other torpedoes. Obviously the aim of the Germans was poor, as both torpedoes passed harmlessly between the liner and the tug. By this time darkness was coming on, and the Justicia was being slowly but steadily hauled to port, when further torpedoes were fired without effect. The night passed, and Saturday morning came. Then the submarines made a final, and as it proved successful, attempt to complete their work. It was at eight o’clock that two torpedoes were fired simultaneously from two of the enemy craft. One entered the liner at the engine-room, causing considerable destruction, while the other struck the ship at the fore-hatch, also causing serious damage. An examination of the liner showed that she was doomed. Steps were taken to abandon her, but it was not until two o’clock that she disappeared. It must not be assumed that while the submarines were busy, as already described, there was no activity on the Justicia. The opposite was the fact. Never have gunners exhibited such astonishing marksmanship as did the gunners on the liner, who created what was described to me this evening by an old Navy man as a world’s record by hitting and prematurely exploding four of the torpedoes while they passed through the water to the liner. According to statements made by members of the crew, four of the eight submarines were sunk, and, the crews of two of them were saved. The liner’s crew were landed at a North of Ireland port on Saturday night, except eleven, all members of engine-room and stokehold staff, who were killed, it is assumed, by the explosions caused by the torpedoes. Ten torpedoes, in all, were fired. The liner’s crew behaved magnificently.