31, 1918, the _President Lincoln_ was returning to America from a
voyage to France, and was in line formation with the U.S.S.
_Susquehanna_, the U.S.S. _Antigone_, and the U.S.S. _Ryndam_, the
latter being on the left flank of the formation and about 800 yards from
the _President Lincoln_. The weather was pleasant, the sun shining
brightly, with a choppy sea. The ships were about 500 miles from the
coast of France and had passed through what was considered to be the
most dangerous part of the war zone. At about 9 a.m. a terrific
explosion occurred on the port side of the ship about 120 feet from the
bow and immediately afterwards another explosion occurred on the port
side about 120 feet from the stern of the ship, these explosions being
immediately identified as coming from torpedoes fired by a German
submarine.

It was found that the ship was struck by three torpedoes, which had been
fired as one salvo from the submarine, two of the torpedoes striking
practically together near the bow of the ship and the third striking
near the stern. The wake of the torpedoes had been sighted by the
officers and lookouts on watch, but the torpedoes were so close to the
ship as to make it impossible to avoid them; and it was also found that
the submarine at the time of firing was only about 800 yards from the
_President Lincoln_.

There were at the time 715 persons on board, including about 30 officers
and men of the Army. Some of these were sick and two soldiers were
totally paralyzed.

The alarm was immediately sounded and everyone went to his proper
station which had been designated at previous drills. There was not the
slightest confusion and the crew and passengers waited for and acted on
orders from the commanding officer with a coolness which was truly
inspiring.

[Sidenote: No confusion in leaving ship.]

Inspections were made below decks and it was found that the ship was
rapidly filling with water, both forward and aft, and that there was
little likelihood that she would remain afloat. The boats were lowered
and the life rafts were placed in the water and about 15 minutes after
the ship was struck all hands except the guns' crews were ordered to
abandon the ship.

[Sidenote: Saving the sick and wounded.]

It had been previously planned that in order to avoid the losses which
have occurred in such instances by filling the boats at the davits
before lowering them, that only one officer and five men would get into
the