https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/register/loss-of-british-troopship-6ptb23ls8
“Forty minutes elapsed from the ‘plugging’ of the vessel till she went under. The total loss was 218, including crew. This large number was undoubtedly due the torpedo striking the vessel where it did.
“In order to accelerate the removal of the soldiers the destroyers came alongside on starboard and port sides one at a time. Immediately a destroyer got into position — and it was done just like a train drawing into a station — the soldiers were told to jump aboard. The orders were that they must stop when told to do so. This prevented overloading and the chances of men being lost in jumping from one vessel to the other. On board the destroyers the military were stowed away in every available place. Many men were picked out of the water who had been clinging to rafts and other supports, and they were succoured by the Jack Tars, who provided them with articles of clothing they could spare.” One soldier missed his leap and fell into the water between the ships. First Officer McBurnie at once leapt into the water to save him. The sailors got hold of the soldier, but McBurnie went under, and before he could be rescued it was found that the soldier was dead, having been crushed between the two ships.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2017-05-18/register/captain-albert-balls-fate-gll0gkc06
On the evening of May 7 he had gone out in company with another machine, flown by a pilot whom we will call “M”. They met an enemy machine, which they attacked and drove down, riddled with bullets. Then a party of four Germans hove in sight, with whom the British fliers promptly closed. “M” found one in such a favourable position that he was practically at its mercy, so he put his own machine into a spin and began to go down. It must be an unpleasant experience, but it was successful in shaking off the enemy. “M” regained control of his machine, climbed up again, and re-entered the fight. He tackled one of the Germans and, after a long fight, sent it down crashing to earth. Then he turned to engage another, but, on closing with it, a bullet broke his wrist and another carried away the top of his control lever. Thus crippled he could fight no more but, though in great pain and unable to control his machine, he managed to get over the lines and land his aeroplane in our own territory. Then he fainted.
What happened after “M” was obliged to leave the field of battle is a mystery. Captain Ball was then left with three enemy machines to fight. Such odds were nothing new, for only two days before he had driven down two enemies and, to make sure, had gone down close to the ground and saw the huddled wrecks within 400 yards of each other. One had put a bullet into his engine and Captain Ball had been covered with oil. As no more enemies were in sight he came home for a wash. The next day he met a party of four Germans, and promptly diving into the centre of their formation, sent them scattering. He picked out one, chased it, and sent it crashing down. Then he looked for the others, but they were not fighting that day and made for home as fast as they could.
The precise number of enemy machines Captain Ball brought down during his career is not known. Records show 41 quite certain, and 10 more morally certain, with a large number of probabilities too. Beyond doubt his was the most wonderful series of victories yet achieved by a flying man of any nation.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2017-05-17/register/russias-new-labour-war-minister-67nkb83g2
The new War Minister, M Kerensky, who held the portfolio of Justice in the old Administration and was a member of the War Cabinet, is the young and enthusiastic leader of the Peasant Toil Party, whose skill and fervour have so materially assisted to maintain relations between the Socialists and the first Provisional Government. As he has repeatedly declared, in accepting office he remained what he always was, a convinced Republican.
Last March, during the earliest days of the Revolution, he paid a memorable visit to Moscow and to the front from which he returned satisfied that “the whole Army, from the commander down to the last soldier, is eagerly devoted to the continuance of the war”. M Kerensky has proved himself a strong supporter of General Alexeieff, the Russian Generalissimo, who only a few weeks ago telegraphed to Sir Douglas Haig the assurance that: “In spite of the difficulties consequent upon the change of regime, the Russian Army will not fail in its duty towards its brave Allies, and will render them all the help in its power by taking the offensive as soon as the climatic conditions permit.”
Kerensky’s appreciation of the issues at stake is shown by his belief, as he expressed it six weeks ago, that it is impossible for Russia to hold a Constituent Assembly until she has beaten the Germans and has gained the freedom to settle her affairs on a new basis. One of the immediate tasks awaiting him will be to decide the cases of Generals Brusiloff and Gurko, the commanders respectively on the Russian South-Western and Western fronts, both of whom have tendered their resignations.
M Sazonoff was to have started for England this morning, to take charge of the Embassy in London, but at the last moment a courier arrived at the railway station with a request from the Prime Minister to postpone his departure.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2017-05-16/register/a-chivalrous-soldier-rxsrrhp05
It was stated that Mrs Cole was the wife of a soldier, who had been at the front for the last 18 months, and had seven children. She was in receipt of an Army separation allowance of about £2 17s 6d per week, and she worked in Woolwich Arsenal where she earned £3 to £4 a week. In March Mrs Cole gave birth to a child, which died, and a day or two afterwards she took the body in a cardboard box to a neighbouring churchyard and deposited it among some bushes. She was accompanied to the churchyard by Mrs Sargeant, a neighbour. The following day the box was found by a schoolboy while at play.
The Recorder remarked that the object was to conceal from her husband the fact that Mrs Cole had had the child. The husband of Mrs Cole, who had returned from the front to give evidence and who had not heen home on leave before, asked the Recorder to deal leniently with his wife. They had, he said, been married 17 years, and his wife was a good mother.
Addressing Mrs Cole, the Recorder, speaking with emotion, said he could not too highly commend the Christian spirit of her husband, who, in spite of the great wrong done him, desired not only to recommend her to mercy, but expressed the hope that she might be released without imprisonment so that she might be able to return to the care of her children. Her husband also said that on his return from the front, if he escaped with his life, he would resume cohabitation with her and overlook the great wrong done him. There were very few men who would so act.
The Recorder remarked that there was no imputation of any kind against Mrs Sargeant. Both the defendants were at once discharged.
● News in Brief. “Dog lovers and dog owners” are to meet in the Small Queen’s Hall tomorrow night, at 8, to protest “against any legislative measures which would result in the wholesale destruction of dogs”.
May 19, 1917
Loss of British troopship
Chief Carpenter Gibb, of the Cameronia, describing the torpedoing of the vessel, said that every life that could be saved was saved. The liner left on Friday, April 13, having on board a crew of 250 and troops. The latter were largely made up of men from a regiment identified with the Midlands. The ship was “plugged” on Sunday evening. Carpenter Gibb had just finished tea, and was filling his pipe when the ship was struck. The sea was calm and the weather fine. Excellent discipline prevailed, the crew going immediately to their boat stations. “I knew from the tremendous concussion,” said Carpenter Gibb, “that the ship was doomed. There was a great rush of soldiers on decks, and I had much difficulty in getting to my boat station. The first boat was smartly launched, but unfortunately it got smashed, and many lives were lost. There was confusion at first, but quickly military discipline ruled and calmness prevailed. The officers and men were drawn up on the decks, and under the superintendence of the crew, were placed in lifeboats.“Forty minutes elapsed from the ‘plugging’ of the vessel till she went under. The total loss was 218, including crew. This large number was undoubtedly due the torpedo striking the vessel where it did.
“In order to accelerate the removal of the soldiers the destroyers came alongside on starboard and port sides one at a time. Immediately a destroyer got into position — and it was done just like a train drawing into a station — the soldiers were told to jump aboard. The orders were that they must stop when told to do so. This prevented overloading and the chances of men being lost in jumping from one vessel to the other. On board the destroyers the military were stowed away in every available place. Many men were picked out of the water who had been clinging to rafts and other supports, and they were succoured by the Jack Tars, who provided them with articles of clothing they could spare.” One soldier missed his leap and fell into the water between the ships. First Officer McBurnie at once leapt into the water to save him. The sailors got hold of the soldier, but McBurnie went under, and before he could be rescued it was found that the soldier was dead, having been crushed between the two ships.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2017-05-18/register/captain-albert-balls-fate-gll0gkc06
may 18, 1917
Captain Albert Ball’s fate
Captain Albert Ball, Royal Flying Corps, has been missing since May 7, but no news of him has been received since his failure to return from his last expedition. So far as is known, the facts are as follows:On the evening of May 7 he had gone out in company with another machine, flown by a pilot whom we will call “M”. They met an enemy machine, which they attacked and drove down, riddled with bullets. Then a party of four Germans hove in sight, with whom the British fliers promptly closed. “M” found one in such a favourable position that he was practically at its mercy, so he put his own machine into a spin and began to go down. It must be an unpleasant experience, but it was successful in shaking off the enemy. “M” regained control of his machine, climbed up again, and re-entered the fight. He tackled one of the Germans and, after a long fight, sent it down crashing to earth. Then he turned to engage another, but, on closing with it, a bullet broke his wrist and another carried away the top of his control lever. Thus crippled he could fight no more but, though in great pain and unable to control his machine, he managed to get over the lines and land his aeroplane in our own territory. Then he fainted.
What happened after “M” was obliged to leave the field of battle is a mystery. Captain Ball was then left with three enemy machines to fight. Such odds were nothing new, for only two days before he had driven down two enemies and, to make sure, had gone down close to the ground and saw the huddled wrecks within 400 yards of each other. One had put a bullet into his engine and Captain Ball had been covered with oil. As no more enemies were in sight he came home for a wash. The next day he met a party of four Germans, and promptly diving into the centre of their formation, sent them scattering. He picked out one, chased it, and sent it crashing down. Then he looked for the others, but they were not fighting that day and made for home as fast as they could.
The precise number of enemy machines Captain Ball brought down during his career is not known. Records show 41 quite certain, and 10 more morally certain, with a large number of probabilities too. Beyond doubt his was the most wonderful series of victories yet achieved by a flying man of any nation.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2017-05-17/register/russias-new-labour-war-minister-67nkb83g2
may 17, 1917
Russia’s new labour war minister
Prince George E Lvoff retains the office, as head of the Russian Provisional Government and Minister of the Interior, which he has held for the last two months. He is the President of the Zemstvo Union and a firm friend of the alliance with England. As Prime Minister he has exhibited consistent honesty of purpose and a lofty faith in the future of his country.The new War Minister, M Kerensky, who held the portfolio of Justice in the old Administration and was a member of the War Cabinet, is the young and enthusiastic leader of the Peasant Toil Party, whose skill and fervour have so materially assisted to maintain relations between the Socialists and the first Provisional Government. As he has repeatedly declared, in accepting office he remained what he always was, a convinced Republican.
Last March, during the earliest days of the Revolution, he paid a memorable visit to Moscow and to the front from which he returned satisfied that “the whole Army, from the commander down to the last soldier, is eagerly devoted to the continuance of the war”. M Kerensky has proved himself a strong supporter of General Alexeieff, the Russian Generalissimo, who only a few weeks ago telegraphed to Sir Douglas Haig the assurance that: “In spite of the difficulties consequent upon the change of regime, the Russian Army will not fail in its duty towards its brave Allies, and will render them all the help in its power by taking the offensive as soon as the climatic conditions permit.”
Kerensky’s appreciation of the issues at stake is shown by his belief, as he expressed it six weeks ago, that it is impossible for Russia to hold a Constituent Assembly until she has beaten the Germans and has gained the freedom to settle her affairs on a new basis. One of the immediate tasks awaiting him will be to decide the cases of Generals Brusiloff and Gurko, the commanders respectively on the Russian South-Western and Western fronts, both of whom have tendered their resignations.
M Sazonoff was to have started for England this morning, to take charge of the Embassy in London, but at the last moment a courier arrived at the railway station with a request from the Prime Minister to postpone his departure.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2017-05-16/register/a-chivalrous-soldier-rxsrrhp05
may 16, 1917
A chivalrous soldier
At the Central Criminal Court yesterday, before the Recorder, Edith May Cole, 34, munition worker, and Florence Sargeant, the latter on bail, both married women, were sentenced to a nominal term of one day’s imprisonment, on an indictment for endeavouring to conceal the birth of a child of which Cole had been confined.It was stated that Mrs Cole was the wife of a soldier, who had been at the front for the last 18 months, and had seven children. She was in receipt of an Army separation allowance of about £2 17s 6d per week, and she worked in Woolwich Arsenal where she earned £3 to £4 a week. In March Mrs Cole gave birth to a child, which died, and a day or two afterwards she took the body in a cardboard box to a neighbouring churchyard and deposited it among some bushes. She was accompanied to the churchyard by Mrs Sargeant, a neighbour. The following day the box was found by a schoolboy while at play.
The Recorder remarked that the object was to conceal from her husband the fact that Mrs Cole had had the child. The husband of Mrs Cole, who had returned from the front to give evidence and who had not heen home on leave before, asked the Recorder to deal leniently with his wife. They had, he said, been married 17 years, and his wife was a good mother.
Addressing Mrs Cole, the Recorder, speaking with emotion, said he could not too highly commend the Christian spirit of her husband, who, in spite of the great wrong done him, desired not only to recommend her to mercy, but expressed the hope that she might be released without imprisonment so that she might be able to return to the care of her children. Her husband also said that on his return from the front, if he escaped with his life, he would resume cohabitation with her and overlook the great wrong done him. There were very few men who would so act.
The Recorder remarked that there was no imputation of any kind against Mrs Sargeant. Both the defendants were at once discharged.
● News in Brief. “Dog lovers and dog owners” are to meet in the Small Queen’s Hall tomorrow night, at 8, to protest “against any legislative measures which would result in the wholesale destruction of dogs”.
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