Arizona republican., 1918-07-20
IRepublican A. p. Leased Wire]

RepuDllCan R. r. LedScu WTcJ
 POINT OF WOODS, N. Y. July 19.- Survivors of the United States cruiser san Diego, sunk ten miles off Fire Is- land shortly before noon today, de- clared tonight that many of the engine room crew must have been killed by the explosion which wrecked the war ship. They were uncertain whether the vessel was sunk by torpedo from a submarine or by mine. The cruiser remained afloat 36 minutes after she was struck.
 Survivors were reported to have been picked up by other ships and to be on their way to New York.
 Sunk on Marine Highway
 The San Diego was sunk at 11:9o a. m. about 10 miles southeast of Fire Island light, which is off the Long Is land shore about 50 miles east of the entrance to New York harbor and on the marine highway of Atlantic ships bound in and out of the port
 Although the navy department an- rounced that the cause of the loss of the San Diego had not been determined, information received from reliable sources in the afternoon indicated sub- marines had been operating off the coast and that she had been torpedoed. There were rumors that the cruiser had been in collision, also that she had struck a mine, but reports current where survivors landed on the Long Island shore bore out the indications that a German submarine had been re- sponsible for the loss.
 Heard Explosions at Sea
 Inhabitants of Bay Shore and Baby lon said they heard gun fire and ex- plosions at sea shortly before noon. The g officers and sailors came ashore In three boats between 8 and : ?. m. at Point of Woods, which is remote sand spit They were held at the coast guard station, where inquiries were barred.
 The firing continued during the aft ornoon and in. the evening, the vil- E lagers reported The reason for it could only be conjectured Fleets of submarine chasers, it is known, put . out from New York and other coast pCrts upon receipt of the news Of the disaster and destroyers were also rushed to the scene.
 Seven merchant steamers were re- ported to have responded to s. O. $. calls of the San Diego and shore wire less stations and to have stood by picking up survivors.
 Coast Guards to Rescue
 Crews of the Fire Island and Oak Island coast guard stations left for the scene of the disaster and had not re- turned at 103O o'clock tonight. De- tails of the San Dego's destruction remained yelled tonight, except for a story told by an unidentified naval aviator on patrol, who apparently wit messed the disaster from the air.
 The story as obtained by villagers was that while flying along the Long Island shore he saw the San Diego suddenly list and later saw hundreds of men struggling in the water He immediately sped for the Point of Woods where he landed. got into com nnunication with a wireless station which he ordered to send out s. O. $ calls.
 Ships Boilers Blown Up
 The torpedo or mine struck the shiI just aft of amidship, blowing up the boilers. One of the sailors declared the guns of the cruiser were fired al what appeared to be a periscope. The survivors who landed here numbered S5 including six officers. The captain and first officer of the San Diego were tho last to leave the sinking cruiser.
 Heavy explosions heard here late to- day were believed to indicate tha' some of the patrol boats which dashed TO the ald or the cruiser had met 2 German submarine and were giving battle. The explosions continued un- til after o'clock tonight and marin CTS living here declared they sounded as if depth bombs were being dropped
 Maintain Navy Traditions.
 An hour before the San Diego wal struck a barrel floating through tn, water so fast it was believed it migh conceal a periscope was sighted by tn lookout and a double watch wa posted.
 According to the survivors there wa no excitement after the explosion Tn courage of the men maintained tn traditions of the navy. All were pro vided with life belts and the ship boats were launched without mishal.
 Many leaped into the water whe tho decks were almost awash, bu were picked up. Several vessels sum moned by wireless gave aid. Severf rf the small boats put ashore at Fir Island.
 The gunners stood by until the las that they might get a shot at the sub marine.
 Survivors Are Landed.
 The survivors who landed here weI
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