The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-10-10
VICTIMS Of RAID
DECLARE WERE TWO
AND MOTHER SHIP
Nantucket Lightship Captain
Says Nine Ships Were Sunk
But Only Six Reported
NOT A LIFE LOST
so FAR AS KNOWN
Allied Warships Securing Seas
While All Wonder Where
Daring Undersea Operators
VIII Strike Next

Newport. n. L., Oct with
the knowledge that the German
war submarines have n mother
ship" within Gala ship which
can supply them with an unlimit-
cd amount Of fuel, food and tor
pedoes-the an-absorbing uucs-
ton here tonight Is. where will
they strike next?''
Sensational reports were afioat
tonight that the U-53 and her
undersea mate had directed an
even more terrible blow at the
allies than that of yesterday when
they destroyed $4,000 tons OF ship
ping and millions of dollars worth
of cargo.
From the Nantucket graveyard
came the rumor that the U-boats had
crowned their work or destruction by
sinking three Of the allies cruisers
which have been pursuing them ever
since the first wireless warning sput-
tered into Halifax. These reports
were discounted late tonight by Ad-
miral Gleaves, in command of the
United States torpedo boat fiotilla.
Word of the presence Of the supply
ship which accompanied the littlo
raiders from across the sea has al
ready been sent in official form TO
Washington. Today Collector of tho
Port William II. Wolcott OF Provi-
dence. was instructed by Washington
to investigate whether any yacht or
any other vessel had put into Newport
which might have acted as a supply
ship for the commerce raiders"
Collector Wolcott investigated and
wired back that he could find nothing
to substantiate this belief.
Combing the Coast.
Combing the waters off Nantucket
tonight is feet of English and French
battleships and cruisers Sink the
submarines on sight" are their instruc-
tons. All the United States destroyers
have been ordered to return to port,
Admiral Gleaves said tonight
Our work is done, the admiral
said. I'VE are now convinced that
only six ships were sunk and that
there was no loss of life.
"A Greek steamer picked up the sur
vtvors Of the Strathcone and is en-
route to New York. A tramp steamer
rescued the crew of the Kingston and
is also proceeding TO New York"
From the stories of survivors there
can be pieced together in detail this
dramatic events acted off the Nam
tucket shoals ltghtship yesterday. They
established beyond all doubt the iden-
tifcation of one of the German sub
marines As the U53 under command
OF the intrepid Captain Rose The
second raider-it is now believed there
were but two-was or an entirely d.f-s
ferent design and appeared to be Of
Older construction
The lisa was painted white. Shs
confined her operations to that pc. lod
of the day before o'clock in the az
ternoon. The other submarine Of bot-
tleship gray. about third the sixc
of the U53 concluded the days work.
Both claimed an equal number OF vic-s
Tins.
II there was q third submarine. a.
previously reported. nothing OF her
description has reached here. Neith-s
er has there been received the slight
est information as to the Identity OF
the other three vessels which Captain
Blanchard. OF the Nantucket li9htshiL.
reiterates. were also sent to the bct-8
ton.
Captain Clifton Smith, of the Red
Cross Liner stephano says the sub
marines were accompanied by q
mother ship. This statement is born,
out by more than score of survivors,
and blue Jackets aboard the destroyer;
f,otilla engaged in the work of res-s
cue. Ete
The presence of sIch a craft opens
new line conjecture over the possibi,-s
ttieS OF ACTIVITY ny the hdiSeT uuOSEs
sea craft in this vicinity. Naval oRi-ss
GERS here attach the greatest imports
ance to Captain Smiths story. They
see in 1t a prolongation OF the cube
marine warfare against the commerce.
OF the allies.
This also probably explains why
Captain Rose paid such a short visit
to this port during which he took on
neither fuel nor provisions, With ~
mother ship ever ready 10 repienisA
their stores the submarine can stay
indefinitely on this side OF the ocean,
and continue their attacks at anE
time 81
Admiral Gleaves has no official ms
formation that the submarines we've
accompanied by tender The IA ~
miral said he had no reason % NeMI
iieve there was more than one sAeEs
from the reports submitted TO him &x&l
captains of the destroysrs that =. rt1t1
I in the harbor early this morning. s9@
violated Ne Neutrality IASun
Admiral Gleaves received to nG45
paper men aboard his n1gsA1h
Birmingham. this afternoon- X1
clared that In no instAncs - IN
German submarine violats9 n14
traiity laws " this sssa1x
4 s II ~