THE TORPEDOED TROOPSHIP TRANSYLVANIA

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3161, 13 August 1917, Page 3

THE TORPEDOED TROOPSHIP TRANSYLVANIA

PINE RESCUE AVORK BY JAPANESE DESTROYERS. The British Admiralty, "Router's Agency is informed, has sent a telegram of thanks and congratulation to tho Japanese Admiral in tho Mediterranean for tho splendid work of Japanese destroyers in May last in rescuing troops and nurses from the troopship Transylvania. It is understood that some of the Japanese officers and men will r receive decorations from the King. The report of the Japanese Admiral, which has now been received, speaks in the highest terms of the perfect order maintained and the courage displayed by troops, nurses, and others on board the transport. Of these the majority, according to the British officer in command, were saved by Japanese destroyers. All were drawn up in perfect order on the after-part of the transport. The Japanese report states that Hie troopship was proceeding to her destination escorted by Japanese destroyers, when during the* forenoon a torpedo was launched- against the Transylvania front a submarine which was hidden behind a sailing vessel. It struck tho troopship in the forepart. One of the Japanese destroyers proceeded at full speed alongside the vessel and at once began the rescue of those on board. When she had taken 500 off the Japanese officer saw a second torpedo, and this crashed into tho 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 sheer off with the rescued she had on board.

Other Japanese 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 a thousand troops. The fir.-t: destroyer had in tho meantime proceeded to land her 500 troops, arid the other vessel with her thousand survivors did likewise. Tho two vessels subsequently returned to continue the work of rescue. By this time the Transylvania had sunk, and Allied destroyers and trawhtu were on the scene.