Washington, Sept. 9.
The liner Athenia carrying American refugees from European war areas was torpedoed on the port side, slightly abaft mid-ships, according to the report of the US. Assistant Naval Attache in London and delivered to the Government through Mr. Joseph Kennedy, American Ambassador in London.
The explosion trapped passengers in the dining salon, drowning them below decks, the report said.
The attack was carried out by a submarine of unspecified nationality, which was said to have come to the surface after the torpedo had disabled the ship, and fired a "gun or explosive signal from the conning tower platform."
No witness on board the Athenia, the report concluded, saw or heard the shell strike the ship or the water. United Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.