[MAB Note: "[L]ast Thursday," as used in this article, means 25 January 1917.]
The New York Times, 29 January 1917
Laurentic, British Auxiliary Cruiser, Sunk By Mine or Torpedo; Probably 180 Men Lost
LONDON, Jan. 28---The British auxiliary cruiser Laurentic, of 14,892 tons gross, has been sunk by a submarine or as a result of striking a mine, according to an official statement issued tonight by the British Admiralty. Twelve officers and 109 men were saved. The Admiralty statement adds that the vessel went down off the Irish Coast last Thursday.
The commander of the Laurentic, Captain Reginald Norton, is among the survivors. He was appointed about six months ago to the command of this steamer, which was commissioned for patrol service in November, 1914.
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The auxiliary cruiser Laurentic carried a naval reserve crew of 300 officers and men, including fourteen engineers and ten deck officers, and was commanded by a naval Captain. The dispatch would indicate that at least 180 of these were lost. Chief Engineer Hurst and his staff were White Star employes, as also were two of the deck officers, it was said. The Laurentic was armed with six 6-inch guns and several quickfirers, and had a speed of seventeen knots.
During a two years' cruise in the Indian Ocean and Pacific on patrol duty the auxiliary cruiser Laurentic halted the American mail steamship China and took off thirty-eight Austrian and German subjects who were on their way from Shanghai to San Francisco. The United States Government protested on the ground that it was an exact parallel of the famous Trent affair and asked for their release. When the British Government declined to act, a second note was sent and the men were released.
The Laurentic was one of the most popular ships in the White Star-Dominion service from Liverpool to Montreal and Quebec before the war. She was built at Harland & Wolff's yard in Belfast in 1908, and was the first passenger liner to be equipped with twin reciprocating engines and a low pressure turbine in the centre to drive the third propeller. The Laurentic was 550 feet 4 inches long and 41 feet 2 inches depth of hold, and had accommodation for 150 first, 430 second, and 650 third-class passengers, and six holds insulated for carrying frozen beef.
The White Star officials in New York had not received any notification of the sinking of the Laurentic until informed of it last night by THE NEW YORK TIMES.
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The New York Times, 29 January 1917
Laurentic, British Auxiliary Cruiser, Sunk By Mine or Torpedo; Probably 180 Men Lost
LONDON, Jan. 28---The British auxiliary cruiser Laurentic, of 14,892 tons gross, has been sunk by a submarine or as a result of striking a mine, according to an official statement issued tonight by the British Admiralty. Twelve officers and 109 men were saved. The Admiralty statement adds that the vessel went down off the Irish Coast last Thursday.
The commander of the Laurentic, Captain Reginald Norton, is among the survivors. He was appointed about six months ago to the command of this steamer, which was commissioned for patrol service in November, 1914.
-----
The auxiliary cruiser Laurentic carried a naval reserve crew of 300 officers and men, including fourteen engineers and ten deck officers, and was commanded by a naval Captain. The dispatch would indicate that at least 180 of these were lost. Chief Engineer Hurst and his staff were White Star employes, as also were two of the deck officers, it was said. The Laurentic was armed with six 6-inch guns and several quickfirers, and had a speed of seventeen knots.
During a two years' cruise in the Indian Ocean and Pacific on patrol duty the auxiliary cruiser Laurentic halted the American mail steamship China and took off thirty-eight Austrian and German subjects who were on their way from Shanghai to San Francisco. The United States Government protested on the ground that it was an exact parallel of the famous Trent affair and asked for their release. When the British Government declined to act, a second note was sent and the men were released.
The Laurentic was one of the most popular ships in the White Star-Dominion service from Liverpool to Montreal and Quebec before the war. She was built at Harland & Wolff's yard in Belfast in 1908, and was the first passenger liner to be equipped with twin reciprocating engines and a low pressure turbine in the centre to drive the third propeller. The Laurentic was 550 feet 4 inches long and 41 feet 2 inches depth of hold, and had accommodation for 150 first, 430 second, and 650 third-class passengers, and six holds insulated for carrying frozen beef.
The White Star officials in New York had not received any notification of the sinking of the Laurentic until informed of it last night by THE NEW YORK TIMES.
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