LOSS OF TOKOMARU

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27, 2 February 1915, Page 7

LOSS OF TOKOMARU

TORPEDOED WITHOUT NOTICE LONDON, Ist February. The Tokomaru, which was practically stationary at the time, 'was waiting for a pilot, and the crew were finishing their breakfast. The explosion resulted in a heavy list to port, and everyone was in the fcoats in fifteen minutes. Meanwhile three French trawlers had appeared. When the boats left the Tokomaru , had her stem above water, an<J. the forward decks were awash. She slid gently to the bottom in a vertical position. The trawlers took the crew to Havre, where it was learnt that two other cargo boats had been torpedoed, one being sunk, and the other brought into Havre with her decks awash. Daniel Grinder, of the Tokomaru, states that lie was forward in the refrigerating* engine-room at 9 o'clock on Saturday mOrning, when he heard a terrific explosion, apparently underneath the place where he was starfding. The shock shifted the engine from the bed-plates, and a great volume of water flooded the engine-room from above. The ship heeled over! to port, and when he reached the deck all hands ware getting the port-side boats ready. There was no panic, and no sign of a submarine, though the third officer previously saw its periscope. Few of the crew had ilothes, except for their vest and trousers. The sea was calm, and the boats were able to stand by while the ship was heeling over. Captain Green was the lastuo leave the ship. The shock deranged the wireless apparatus, and the operator received several shocks while sending the distress "signal, but he got into touch with the steamer Asturias. "WHOLE WORLD WILL RISE IN HORROR" PARIS, Ist February, The Minister of Marine (M. Agagneur) denounces the sinking of the Tokomaru without notice as a dshberate and systematic violation of international law, placing the officers of lihe submarine outside the pale of humanity. The whole world, he says, will rise in horror. Such an act of war is unworthy of a civilised nation. GERMAN PRESS JUBILANT (Received February 2, 9.20 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, Ist February. German newspapers are', jubilant over the submarine activity, which is tlireatening to cut off England's food supply and to strike at the root of the trans-oceanic trade.