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Show AMERICAN SHIP SUNK WIllJTWAilffl Steamship Was Shelled by Submarine, Say Members of Surviving Crew. NEW YORK, Dec. 6. The steamship John A. Lambert, listed in the maritime register as an American vessel, was shelled and sunk without warning- by a German submarine off the Isle of Wight on November 22, according .to members of the crew, Americans, who arrived here today on the French line steamship Espagne from Bordeaux. The John Lambert was one of twelve vessels built on the great lakes, and which a French line agreed to purchase. According- to the arrivals today, the vessel ves-sel had not been turned over to the French interests, but was on its way to Havre for delivery there. The attack took place at 4:30 p. m., when the ship was twenty-five miles south of the Isle of Wight, members of the crew said. The engineer, Edward Harrison of this city, said that the U-boat U-boat first made its presence known by sending a shell crashing through the John Lambert's bridge, and that the firing continued con-tinued during the time the crew was taking tak-ing to the boats, twelve shots In all being be-ing fired. The crew, numbering sixteen, all of whom arrived here today without their I captain, said they rowed forty miles to ! the French coast, being on the water twelve hours, and that shortly after the John Lambert went down they saw the submarine attack and sink two unidentified unidenti-fied vessels a steamship and a bark. The John Lambert was the last of the twelve great lakes craft to be taken to France for delivery. Eighty members of the crews of four of the vessels were passengers on the Espagne today. WASHINGTON, Dec. Tbe sinking of the John Lambert was reported to the state department by the American embassy embas-sy in Paris, but as the vessel was described de-scribed as a French merchantman, en route from Montreal for Havre, no effort has been made to secure further details. Records of the department of commerce show that the Iambert sailed from Canada Can-ada under French papers. An inquiry may be made to establish her exact status. |