Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-10-09
Continued from Page one)

known there was no loss of life, though
at a late hour the crew of the British
steamer Kingston had not been ac-
counted for.
Held Up American Steamer
A submarine held up the American
steamer Kansan, bound from New
York for Genoa with steel for the Ital-
ian government, but later on establish
Ang her identity. allowed the American
to proceed. The Kansan came into Bos-
ton harbor late tonight for her usual
I call here.
The hostile submarine is believed to
be the U53, which paid call to
Newport yesterday and disappeared at
sunset. Some naval men, however, de-
clare that at least two submarines are
operating close to the American shore,
though outside the three mile lint
The sensation created yesterday
when the U-53 quietly slipped into
Newport harbor and as quietly slipped
out three hours later was less than
the shock in shipping circles when
wireless reports of submarine attacks
began to come in to the naval radio
stations just before noon today. With
in a few minutes the air was literally
charged with electricity as wireless
messages Of warning shot up and
down the coast
In Steamer Lanes
The submarine or submarines had
taken position directly in the steam
To- t1ox- 1,, lt-r CT
anything bound in for New York or
bound east from that port.
Vessels of the allied nations and
ncutga! bottoms carrying contraband
OF var scu:r1ed to get within the
three-lnle limit of the American
shore Several which were following
the outside course shifted and made
tor the inside lane. The Stephano of
the Red Cross line. however, was
caught outside the neutral zone. The
destruction OF this vessel was perhaps
the biggest prize of the day. The craft
had been sod to the Russian govern
ment and would have been used as an
ice breaker after her present trip.
The passengers and crews of destroy
ed vessels who were being brought into
Newport were not expected to reach
there until after midnight. Prepara-
lions to care for them had been made
by Rear Admiral Austin NJ. knight,
commandant of the Narragansett Bay
Naval Station and Rear Admiral Albert
Gieaves commander of the destroyer
fotlla now at Newport.
Later reports gave further details of
the attacks. The Stephano met the sub
marine six miles southeast of Nantuck-
ct lishtship and was attacked by gum
fire and a torpedo. She remained afloat
until 1905 tonight. The West Point
went down 10 miles south of the Nam
tucket lightship The Strathdene was
attacked off the lightship." the report
States, and the Bloomersdijk was sunk
three miles south of the lightship She
remained afoat some time, going down
at sos. The American steamer kansan
was held up three miles east of Nan
tucket lightship.
The first wireless warning Of tho
presence Of hostile submarine in the
steamship lane was given in the dis
tress signals Of the West Point. which
reported that she had been torpedoed 80
miles southeast of Nantucket light. This
message apparently was picked up by
every vessel having wireless equip
ment within range for within a very
short time press dispatches from St.
John. n. E., and Halifax, n. S, indi-
Gated that the patrollng battleships had
received alarm The British censorship,
However, prevented the disclosure Of the
movements of the patrolling fleets.
Meantime ship owners in Boston are
communicating with their vessels at sea.
1t is supposed that any information re-
garding the submarine activities that
reached the battleshipS came from other
vessels than from shore, though it might
have come from Halifax, where the news
was received over land wires.
At l1.25 O'Clock tonight the returning
destroyer nearest home was still 80 miles
from Newport and she was not expected
until after / A. NJ. A late message said
that one destroyer with two crews,
taken from the Nantucket lightship, was
bound for New York. but it was thought
that this was a mistake.
Speculation
A thing that is puZzling naval men to-
night is why the u53 came into port yes
terday, and thing that is the subject of
speculation of many outside the navy
is that II vessels We're sent out to rescue
the crew of single freight steamer. The
report that the West Point had been tor
pedoed The theory advanced tonight
was that Commander Hans Rose of the
U-53 came to Newport to advise Admiral
Knight that he was about to attack hos
tile shipping and contraband- carrying
vessels under the rules of international
law Admiral Knight reiterated this eve
ming that Commander Roses call was one
Of courtesy, but it was suggested that the
German commander wished to guard
against loss Of life through the aid Of
American vessels in picking up passen-
gers and crews of ships destroyed.
The Strathden and West Point
German submarine, supposedly the
C-53 which called at Newport yes