THE U BOATS

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13887, 12 October 1918, Page 5

THE U BOATS

600 LOST ON THE LEINSTER. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received October 12, 8.20 a.m. NEW YORK, October 11. There are 600 dead on the Leinskr, which was twice torpedoed. THE LOSS OF THE LEINSTER. STRUCK BY TWO TORPEDOES. SINKS IN 15 MINUTES. FEW BOATS LAUNCHED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received October 12. 1.50 p.m. LONDON, October 11. The Leinster was torpedoed forward and heeled over. The crew bes-an to launch the lifeboats-, when a second torpedo three minutes later struck the engine-room. A deafening exfdosion followed, blowing the funnels into the air and killing the captain and a number of others, including 70 in a lifeboat hanging in the davits. A few boate were launched, and some overturneck The rafts saved many. There is no hope of there being further survivors, as the sinking occurred in daylight, and 50 vessels, including naval craft, were soon on the scene. One of the crew says the steamer seemed to crumble to ashes, and sank in 15 minutes. There were 630 pasj senders and 70 of a crew aboard, ineluding a number of women and child- ! ren. .Most were thrown headlong into the water. It was only possible to lower a few boats, and these were overcrowded. One filled with wafer and overturned. A number of survivors were picked up clineing to overturned boats and others on rafts cast from the neck. Five hundred are missing.