British cargo ship ss Athenia torpedoed and sunk according to a report of of the American Naval Attaché at Berlin, Germany Nr. R562 dated 15 September 1939

Diary note dated Monday 4 September 1939. An item reported that the British cargo ship ss Athenia was torpedoed and sunk about 200 miles west of the Hebreides. On board were Canadians and 311 Americans returning to the USA. British destroyers, a Swedish yacht and Norwegian and American merchant ships tried to rescue the survivors. The Foreign Officie died officially the loss to the US Chargé.

Source

National Archives. FDR Presidential Library&Museum Roosevelt PSFC000175. War diary Naval Attaché Berlin, volume 1 (1 September 1939-26 May 1940)