Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-07-20
SAN DIEGO SUNK
Continued from Page one)

been plCkeu Up pS over SnfpS Hu"
ever and TO be on their way to New
York.
The San Diego was sunk at 11:oO
A. NJ, about ten miles southeast OF
Fire Island light. which is off Long
Island shore about 80 miles east OF
the entrance TO New York harbor
and on the main highway OF trans
Atlantic ships bound in and out OF
the port.
Although the navy department an
nounced that the cause Of the loss OF
the San Diego had not been deter
mined, information received from
reliable sources in the afternoon in
dictated that submarines 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 sur
vivors landed on the Long Island
shore bore out the indications that
German submarine had been re-
sponsible.
An aviator flying along the Long
! Island shore at the time the San
Diego sunk, noticed the vessel
suddenly list and was instrume: al
IN having an SOS call sent out from
the wireless station on Fire Island
according to statements by civilians
on shove
A brief irvestiea ton. the aviator
whose name could not be learned.
/ landed at point of woods, near Fire
( l. md ZACH
Gettii~ into telephone commune
cation with the wireless station, he
ordered the operator to call all YES
sells in the vicinity to the lid of the
SAN DESC.
Civilians said that the aviator re-
ported nearly a thousand men APP
peared to be struggling in the water
when he circ!cd over tllc cruiser.
I The San Diego vas hound from no
I Portsmouth. \. H.. navy yard for
New York when she was sunk. Cap
( tam II. II. Christy was in command
and On board we're 81 officers. 1890
enlisted lon and SO marines. The
, vessel had been undergoing repairs
\ al the navy Yard
! Two lifehoats filed with survivors
landed Ut Point OF Woods and then
nut off again Y one nf the rescue
ships which was seen to steam down
HE coast apparently bound for New
York harbor.
h At least n part Of the survivors
have been landed at Point OF W",ds.
Soon after the sos call had been
sent nut seven or more vessels rae
"a to tie scene, and circing around
tie San Diego began \ systematic
search for survivors. Hundreds IF
Ihcse. it WIS said We're taken aboard
the r"Scue ships. VIII oh included sex
c.'al tankers and one naval vessel
All IF the boats Of the naval train
+. inr station at Sapville have boon
seat 3rrN&s Great South bay TO Fire
Island beach presumably 10 trans
fer men FRI m the San Diego All ~ ,
! cphone connections with Fire Is
land have hcnn taken over str o.n-
c'al business,
Preparations have been made at
the United States base hospital at
Fox Hills. Staten Island 10 receive
wounded men. but the authorities
there were not certain they were
1 from the San Diego, althoush shat
4 was considered highly probable.
I Persons livinp' on the Babylon
shore If the bay reported tonight
/ that they heard a number Of eSplo-
I sons at sea this morning.
Persons at Bay Shore on the Long
Island shore. said they heard gun
He at sea shortly before noon to-
! DAY. indicating that the submarine
NAV have been engaged by the San
/ Diego.
A tank steamship arrived at Quar-
! antine at n tonight and reported
that she had 300 men on board.
They are presumed to be survivors
from the San Diego.
New York. July 19--Thirtv sailcrs,
| one lieutenant and one ensign were
landed at Point Of Woods in three
boats between O'clock and o'clock
iris afternoon from the cruiser San
Diego which was sunk off Fire Is
land this morning, according to IN
formation reaching here tonight
Point Of Woods is on TIE Long Island
shore north Of Fire Island light.
All the boats, manned by full crews
from the Fire Island and COAX Is
land coast guard stations were or
dered out this afternoon and had not
returned at 1890 o'clock tonight. ac-
cording to information from Bay
Shore. T. /. was said there that the
men were assisting in the rescue
and the transfer Of survivors of the
san Diego, who are being landed at
! Point of Woods.
Reports reaching Bay Shore were
10 the effect that the San Diego sank
off Cherry Grove, seven miles east