Dear Mr. Zimmermann:
Your interesting letter came yesterday. Yes, I was on the
U.S.S. Kanawha when the TUSCANIA was torpedoed.
Relative to the sinking of the TUSCANIA, I wish to inform
you that an article written by myself, was published in the March 6, 1925
edition of the American Legion Weekly. Will give you the article as it was
published:
"I was on the U.S.S. Kanawha directly behind the TUSCANIA
on that trip across the Atlantic from Halifax. One thing has been cleared up by
the statement, that it was a sub that sent the TUSCANIA to the bottom. The
commander of my ship reported to the Navy Department that it was his belief that
it was a mine. It was just a dull explosion, neither loud nor soft - more like a
dull thud. The TUSCANIA listed heavily to starboard. And I might say that Donald
Smith could have said that he knew positively that the well known writer did not
hear the boys singing "Where do we go from here, boys?" I can positively state
that the Baltic, on which he was a passenger, was at least one-half mile ahead
of the TUSCANIA when she was torpedoed. Donald Smith speaks of the destroyer
escort - British - and I can state that the destroyer escort of this convoy was
at least five miles ahead of the convoy."
Then again on January 8th, 1927, I sent into the Chicago
Tribune a story of the TUSCANIA disaster, they printed the story under the
heading of War Letters which was as follows:
"Well do I remember the year 1918 of the World War." It
was in the latter part of January that a convoy was assembled at Halifax, Nova
Scotia. One of the ships was the ill-fated TUSCANIA; mine was the U.S.S.
Kanawha, supply ship for the United States Navy. Throughout the trip across the
Atlantic the TUSCANIA was unable to hold her proper position in the convoy. We
were following the TUSCANIA and we were pushed back some six or eight hundred
cable lengths on account of this. When we entered the Maidens, it was possible
to see the coast of Ireland on the right and the coast of Scotland on the left.
Everything seemed secure for the delivery of another safe convoy. "Scupper
Brown, Copper Smith and this writer were standing on the quarterdeck, discussing
current events. "Scupper" casually said "I don't believe that there is a sub
within 100 miles of here."
Probably ten minutes lapsed before there was an explosion.
The TUSCANIA listed to starboard. We passed by and the lowering of lifeboats and
the men jumping into the icy water were visible. We were absolutely helpless,
the orders being to proceed ahead at full speed.
Can you imagine the feeling that went over us? To this day,
I have only to shut my eyes and that picture come to me so vividly that it seems
as if it happened only yesterday."
That is the story as I remember it. If there is anything
further you want in the line of information, and I can give it to you, please
don't hesitate to call on me.
