The Ozark spectator., 1916-10-14

Boston.-A German submarine. sup posedly the U-53 which called at New port, torpedoed and sank the British freight steamers Strathdene, Stephano and Kingston and torpedoed and crip- pied the British freighter West Point of Nantucket. No loss of life was re- ported. The submarine also held up the American freight steamer Kansan. but later allowed her to proceed.
 The crew of the Steamer Strath- dene, nearly all of them Lascars, were taken aboard the Nantucket lightship. The officers and men of the West Point took to their small boats after summoning assistance from shore.
 The distress signals of the West Point were picked up by the govern ment radio station at Newport K. I. and immediately Rear Admiral Gleaves. commander of the destroyer notilla of the American Atlantic fleet. ordered virtually all of his ships to position as 50 miles southeast of Man. tucket, but the navy officials said that later reports indicated that the vessel was not more than 10 miles on shore. The weather was thick and 1t was ex- pected that the crew would not DC brougat into Newport before midnight
 The booming of the submarines guns. apparently fired in warning, was distinctly heard at Nantucket. but wLere the submersible was at the moment these reports were heard was pure speculation. It was plain, however, that she had placed herself in the lane of passenger and freight traffic and terrorized shipping along the coast.
 Vessels Change Their Course.
 Immediately after the f1rst distress signals of the West Point were sent broadcast, wireless messages were sent up and down the coast and far out to sea, warning every vessel that a German submarine was operating in the steamer lane. Every vessel equipped with wireless was told to
  zone and the commanders of mer- chant vessels of the entente allies lost no time in shifting their course.
 Those that were following what is known as the outside course turned to the inside course that would bring them closer to American land. The passenger steamer Stephano, which plies regularly between New York and St. Johns. N. F., was bound west and was due off Nantucket tomorrow morning. When her British com mander received his warning he was said to have shifted his course to bring his vessel within the inside lane.
 British consular officers along the New England coast who had been ad- vised by the British embassy to warn British shipping against the U-53 upon her appearance at Newport, renewed their caution on learning that the sub marine had gone into action.
 Something like panic possessed the minds of shippers in this city and at other ponts along the coast when the first reports of the torpedoing were received from the radio station. The stories regarding the U-53 which appeared in the Sunday papers had aroused much speculation as to her mission. and the news that she had attacked British vessels travelled fast. Anxious inquiries were made at tho Newport offices from seemingly al most everyone who had a friend on the water or owned share of stock in q merchant bottom.
 Radio Stations Closed.
 The Frederick VIII of the Scandina- vian-Anlerican Line, which is bringing home the American ambassador to Germany, James w. Gerard. and Mrs. Gerard. was coo miles east of New York at noon Sunday. Assurance that the ambassador and his wife were on a neutral vessel was given to in quiring friends by the press.