THE TUSCANIA HEROES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 187, 27 April 1918, Page 10

THE TUSCANIA HEROES

AMERICAN TRANSPORT'S SURVIVORS IN IRELAND A TRAGEDY OF WAR (By Captain Connou Thomson.) (Published by the War Oilice, by favour of the Colonial loslituto.) America lias already olieral substantial prools of her whoie-hearted purpose in lending her aid to the- Allies, her vast resources being available at a moment' winch may prove to be a critical stago of the war. The seriousness of her intentions is Manifested by tlie enormous war preparation* ui uie tugner iuttnorities, and tnat tne tunie spirit of determination for' victory Mas perinea ttd to tneir fighting men is shown by the heroic action of the troops of the torpedoed Tnscauia. Over a thousand survivors of this latest strolte of Jinn "Jrightt'ulness" were landed in a JJntish camp in Ireland during the stormy hours, of a i'Vbruary morning, Atany of them, only half, clad, had been drilling on the open sea throughout the night, having lost all their equipment. Aiany of litem were without bouts and tunics, and some were even without breeches. Spare clothing and blankets were issued to tnem as soon as possible, and meanwhile tue camp troops had voluntarily turned out ot their warm beds at i a.m., so tuat their destitute comrades should have all the comfort it was possible to give them. After being served with breakliust the survivors were free to movo about the camp in their miscellaneous kits, the majority of them bomg garbed in blankets, dressing-gowns, "woollies" of various hues, ami boots of all sizes, h'rom a military standpoint their makeshift, costumes naiuraliy looked <xld in a wellordered camp; in spite of this there was something impressive in the demeanour, of the survivors. Their very plight, also, served to strengthen the natural bond between thorn and their British cousins. Loath .to Talk. Tiheso men, who had been through the horrors of lacing deatli on a sinking ship with boats damaged by explosions, were now standing or moving about in small groups. Tnere was no emotion or excitement noticeable, each man exhibiting a calmness and subdued sternness of purpose, as if he regarded his experience as merely being part of the day's work. The majority of them had never been to sea m their lives, and many of them were volunteer recruits of short service.

They were all so restrained and uniulpnsaioned in their acceptance of the fortunes of - war, that it was difficult to approach them for any details of their unnerving experience, about which they were most reluctant to talk. This reticence was not duo to shock or iuttrtia, every individual man holding himself proudly, as if this first opportunity to saoriiico himself to duty had filled him with a wordless, inward, joy". There was a far-away look in their eyes, as if their mind's vision carried them from their surroundings to' their placo in tho battlefront, where with set lips and grim determination, they would chafe for tho opportunity to avenge tho loss of their comrades, who had died so nobly.

Some time later they were induced to talk a little more of what they had como through, and the summing up of the details pointed in one direction, and that was the admirable and courageous way in which each man was ready to meet what seemed certain death. Tho boats could only accommodate a small proportion of their numbers, and the remainder, including all their brave officers who set such a heroic example to tho men and counted it "only their job," were lined up oa deck calmly resigned to meet their fate. There was no confusion, no panic, and no disorder. One officer ordered his colour-sergeant to save the squadron colours. The colours were saved by this same sergeant, and at the present moment occiny a placo of honour in a British • officers' mess. The camp authorities treated tho American heroes with typical hospitality, and,. "Tommy," large-hearted as ever, was'' busy handing over his last packot of "fags" and personal "kit," which might bo of use. to tho survivors. The Real War Spirit. It may have been that in facing death the Tuscania troops were influenced by their experience to a loftier sense of duty than that which had previously stimulated them, but, whatever the reason, the demeanour of the men, botli individually and collectively, appenled to even the humblest recruit in the camp. There was a natural calmness and determined grininess of purpose in their bearing, which seemed to elevate and ennoble them. The set, immobile cast of their features denoted that they had only one object in being on this side of tho wntcr, and that was to meet tho enemy with the same glorious fighting spirit their forefathers had shown. By such fighting qualities will they inspire a spirit of. renewed courage in the hearts of their Allied comrades, and join them in cutting a path to the victory which will bring peace and happiness to tho world. ■The survivors of the 'Tuscania' were men in different branches of the service, and all drawn from varying conditions of life. For this reason they could be accepted as representatives types of the new American Army. This being so, America has ample reasons for enthusiastic pride in her sons, who have already faced the perils of war so heroically; and we, who have been bearing the brunt of the struggle for so long, are fortified in the security of having such magnificent types of manhood to strengthen and support our battle-lines. When the Tuscania troops are drafted to the front, they will carry with 'them the same grim and resolute bearing with which they landed in Ireland; and' with another proof of the Hun brutality to stimulate their actions, the enemy mil find in them a body of men brimful of courage and daring,, and with one fixed purpose in their minds: the determination to free the world from those who would drench it with, innocent blood.