Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-02-01
AMERICAN SUBSEA
DISAPPEARS IN FOG
KS, on Way from New York to
Pensacola, is Missing Since One
O'clock Sunday Morning.
OFFICIALS ARE NOT ALARMED


CHARLESTON, S. c., Jan. 31.-No
word has been received up to 8 a.
m. today from the submarine ks or
from the vessels which are searching
for II, according to navy yard Of
ficials. The ks has been missing
since o'clock Sunday morning and
has not responded to wireless calls
sent out from short stations and
naval vessels, leading marine men to
believe that the boat had suffered
at least an accident to its wireless
apparatus. A heavy fog hung over
the coast between here and Cape Ro-
main, forty miles north of here,
where the submersible was last
sighted, making more difficult the
task Of the searchers. '
The ks. with the XII, K-2 and K-a
was en- route for Key West for mancu-
vera- The. other boats and their Tender.
the Tallahassee arrived off Charleston
Bar last night and reported the missing
boat.
Tho monitor Tallahassee and the sub
marines XII. and came into CharleF-
ton harbor at $3.50 o'clock this morning
They were held outside all night be-
cause Of the dense fog.
Officers of the Tallahassee were ac-
credited with the statement that nothing
had been heard OF the ks.
Officials Not Alarmed.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31.-The where
abouts OF the submarine KS remained
unknown to navy officials here early to-
day. The officials were not alarmed by
the absence of any report from the sub
marine. They believe It may have ex-
perienced trouble with its engines, but
said its battery power was sufficient to
keep II under control In that case. Fail
ure to receive any report from the ves-
sci. they said, might indicate that it's
wireless apparatus had become deranged.
Secretary Daniels ordered the destroy
ers Sterrett and Perkins, en- route from
Pensacola to Charleston, TO search for
the missing submarine. The destroyer
Worden, at Charleston; the coast guard
cutters Seminole and Yamacraw. and the
buoy-tender Mangrove also are cruising
for II. Lieutenant n. c. Grady com
mands. with Ensign H. c. Frazer sec
ond In command.
All the boats OF the K-class, officials
said. have thoroughly demonstrated
themselves to be seaworthy and eff
cient. The K-boats In the Pacific re-
Gently went from San Francisco TO Homo
lulu under their own power, establishing
new record for long-listance cruising
for American submarines.
The K-5 was equipped with wireless,
having a sending radius of fifty miles.
WASHINGTON, ID. c.. Jan. 3l.-Alli ef-
forts of the navy wireless and a flotilla
of coast guard ships and war vessels to
locate the missing submarine KS had
been futile up to late today. Navy de-
partment officials. while disturbed, said
they were not fearful Of the loss Of the
submarine and thought II possible with
damaged wireless II might have become
separated from the flotilla and gone on
alone TO the submarine base at Key
West. Fla.
All the boats Of the K-class, officials
said, have thoroughly demonstrated
themselves to be seaworthy and eff.
cient.
The KS was equipped with wireless
with a sending radius OF fifty miles.
Navy department officials said II was
probable the vessel had cotton beyond
reach of it's wireless or that the appara-
tus has been damaged so that It could
not report It's location.