DISASTERS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14625, 1 February 1918, Page 5

DISASTERS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.

TWO TRANSPORTS AND DES-

TROVER SUNK

BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN MINED,

:Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.'

(Received Jan. 31, 7.30 p.m.) London, Jan. 30. Two transports were lost between Qtranto and Alexandria, Those drowned included four nurses.

A destroyer was also lost while rescuing the survivors. Both transports were included in the sinkings cabled on the 9th inst. The larger transport was'the-.Pacific Mail Company's Aragon, with 2000 on board, including troops, nurses, and a medical unit. The second vessel was tho old Khedival steamer Osmanieh with 800 on board.

It is believed that both vessels ran into a minefield^ the disasters occurring within a few hours of each other.

It is interesting to note that during the war nine transports have been lost, the casualties aggregating 2000. Something like eleven million effectives have been°carried without a casualty. Close on a quarter of a million troops are often afloat on a single day.