THE LOST TRANSPORTS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 116, 2 February 1918, Page 9

THE LOST TRANSPORTS

A NURSE'S SIORY BRITISH PLUCK WHEN FACING DEATH / London, January >31. The first published story of tho sinking of the Aragon is from a nurse who was aboard the transport. She says the vessel-sailed from Marseilles under a destroyer escort, and sighted land at 10.40 on December 30. /flio Aragon was torpedoed half an hour later. The,nurses got away early in boats, and were" all saved. They saw the Aragon settling deep by 1 the stern, and the troops on board singing. Several boats were soon on the spot, and after the Aragon sank they picked up many of tlio men. A destroyer was torpedoed immediately afterwards, while-picking up survivors. She had hundreds of rescued troops aboard. The destroyer 'broke in halves. The nurse adds that the Osmanielt sank in five minutes. She Tiad forty nurses oil board,, of whom eight were brought ashore dead. The troops on board the Aragon showed 'the greatest gallantry. : They •never ihovod towards the boats containing the women, -.though tlio ship was .dipping badly, and finally heeled so far that the men fell down. Tlio colonel in charge of the deck gave the order, "Abandon ship!" and everyone jumped into the water. After rescuing the sisters, the boats quickly returned and rescued many of the men from tho water.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn... \ •—k