The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-15
Vessel Being Shelled SIS Miles
East of Nantucket.
$. o. S. Flashes Predicament to
British Steamship.
WARN LINERS TO WATCH OUT
Name of Ship i'm Distress Not
Clearly SignalIed.
British Report Says U-BOat in
West Atlantic Waters.

An Atlantic Port, Sept ia Brit
ish steamship that arrived here today
reported that early yesterday MORN
ing a wireless S. o. S. call was heard.
stating that the ship from which the
message came was being shelled by
a German submarine. the location be-
ing sixty-five miles east of Nantucket
lightship.
The name of the ship attacked did
not come clear, only the word Abb
bey," presumably the last half of the
name being caught.
Additional information that subma-
rine was in the western Atlantic was
brought by another British liner which
arrived here today from an English
port. Officers of the liner said they
had been instructed to watch out for
U-boats when nearing the American
coast.
There are u number of vessels, both
sail and steam, of which the word
| Abbey is a part of their names, now
engaged in Atlantic trade.
In Former U-Boat Haunts.
The place where the ship reported
shewas being attacked sixty-five miles
east of Nantucket is in the vicinity in
which the German submarine U-53
| sunk six steamers on its visit to
American waters in October. 1916.
The U-5s, under command of Lieut.
|
Newport harbor October Z, and after
a three hour stay put to sea.
| The next report of her activities was
when the American steamer Kansas.
since sunk, was stopped off Nantucket
| but permitted to proceed upon estab-
| fishing her identity. Then soon after
came word of the sinking of the
British steamers Strathdene. West
Point Kingston, and Stephano, the lat
i ter a tcoastwise passenger vessel; the
fen loo IL ~
Norwegian steamer Christian Knud-
zeis. Passengers from the Stepfrano
and crews from the other ships were
rescued by American destroyers.
May Be More Than One.
Unconfirmed reports reaching an
ether port may indicate still another
| ship was attacked by a German sub
marine somewhere off the New Eng
land coast.
steamer (name withheld) report
ed she intercepted a wireless message
from a ship off the coast which said
a German U-boat had been sighted.
She was about to give her position
when the calls suddenly ceased. Re-
peated efforts to locate her brought
no reply.
Many Reports But No U-Boats.
There have been numerous previous
reports of visits of German subma-
rines to this side of the Atlantic since
the trip of the U-53 to Newport a year
| ago. All these reports, however, have
turned out to be erroneous.
Captain Ready to Report
The British steamer which brought
the report, anchored in this port at
, noon today The captain Immediately
made ready to go ashore and report
at the offices of the owners agents
1t was understood, however, that
under instructions from the navy de-
partment in Washington, he would be
) unable to tell his story until a complete
: detailed report had been made to Sec
retary Daniels.
Navy Orders Facts.
Washington. Sept. 15.-The navy
department, hearing of the reported
submarine attack off Nantucket, talk
ed with the commandant of the New
York naval district and instructed him
: To board the British ship bringing the
! news and get full particulars of the
. British captains story
The only information the depart
. ment had was that the skipper hac
' told of intercepting the message wher
r ne arrived in port. The department
. planned also to get in touch with tn.
. | Boston naval district