The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-10-10
COMMERCE RAID
CARRIED OU7 BY
ONE SUBMARINE
REPORTS OF u. S.
OFFICERS AGREE
Was Evidently Work Of The
U.s. Raiding Ceased
for the Present.

T. l. H.. L.,
wholesale raid on foreign shipping
south of Nantucket lightship. Sunday,
was the work Of one submarine. ac-
cording to reports of American naval
officers. Rear Admiral Albere GleaveS,
commanding the torpedo boat destroy
er tlotilla, which did such remarkably
speedy rescue work yesterday, said to-
night that the reports Of all his officers
agreed that rhe best of their OBJ
SeryaIion one .,lder only was con-
cerned. This Loaf presumably was the
German C-53, which called at Newport
Saturday afternoon 70 mail a letter 10
Ambassador BernStOrff. and then put
to sea without taking an ounce OF sup
plies. although she was II days from
her base. according TO the statement
Of her officers.
Admiral Gleayes said he could easily
understand the positive statements OF
the captain Of the NnIucket llghtShlp
and Of sailors of the torpedoed vessels
that more than one Submersible was
concerned The L boat. he said, was
very fast and appeared to be handled
cleveriy. 1t was easy. he pointed out,
for her TO disappear on one side of a
ship and then show up unexpectedly at
another spot. DonubtleSS. he believed.
she had submerged and reappeared
often enough 70 mislead anyone but L
keen professional observer. and to Gre
ate the impression thai more than one
sea terror was operating.
This opinion would seem to be
borne out by the statements Of many
OF the refugees that the submarine
had more business Cn hand than she
could take care OF at once and vas
obliged To request one steamer TO wair
her turn while another was being
put out Of commission. Commander
Miller of the Destroyer Ericsson who
witnessed the destruction of the Ste
piano said he was positive that only
one submarine was IN the vicinity ut
the time.
Today the raiding had ceased. at
least for the moment.
Only Six Victims.
The known list Of the victims of
the L boats Sunday exploits remains:
at six. Notwithstanding reports from
the Nantucket lightship that three
other ships, the identity of which
could not be- learned, were sent TO The
bottom. There also was a persistent
rumor. without verificatiou, that a
British cruiser. one OF the allied pa
troll fleet sent 10 the submarine zone,
e. had been attacked.
Ten more refugees. were landed
here tonight by the Melville. tender
OF the Destroyer floti(la. which picked
up ten Chinese members CT the crew
OF The Steamer Strathdene. They
We're sent to the training station TO
De held until immigration inspectors
can pass upon their cases after which
they probably will be transferred TO
New York.
Destroyers swept the waters on Il
wide area today in q vain search for
the crew Of the Steamer ktngStonian
who vera seen by members OF the
Steamer Strathdene 20 take TO their
boats before their vessel was sunk.
Notwithstanding the lull in subma-
rlne activities to-day, shipping men
were by no means treasured. If only
one raider were concerned she might
be waiting only to replenish her sup
plies. they believed. This gave rise 10
Il renewal OF reports thai elaborate
methods OF supplying foreign Subma-
rineS from american bases had been
perfected.
Repot Not Confirmed.
Government officials were unable
TO confirm this report. In many quar-
terS the opinion was expressed today
that another outbreak OF the L boat
and her consortS If she had any. would
not be surprising. Ii was reported by
members OF the crew Of the steamer
Strathdene that the submarine which
sank her had filled her fuel tanks with
oil from the Norwegian tank steamer
Chr. knudSen before me latter was
sent TO the bottom. Other refugees
have declared that they saw 4 Germau
supply ship lowering in the vicinity of
the raid Sunday. Although fuel tanks
may have been rcpleniShed from the
Norwegian vessel. naval officers eX.
pressed he opinion that after a day of
such remarkable activity as yester-
days the submarine must be short of
ammunition. Reports of many of the
refugees agree that The submarine
which halted their ship was prodgal
in the use OF shells. and most Of them
were Of the opinion that after their
steamer had been Shelled it was given
her finishing blow by Il torpedo.