The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1918-07-25
HUN U-BOAT SINKS
ARMORED CRUISER
SAN DIEGO OF U. S. FLEET HIT
OFF FIRE ISLAND.
MEMBERS OF CREW MISSING
Ship Carried Complement Of More
Than 1000 Men. Navy Depart
ment Announces. - Aviator
Scene Proves Hero.

lISOO 'NSNJ
ment Announces. - Aviator
Scene Proves a Hero.
Washington, ID. c., July 20.-The|
navy department early this morning
received information that two steam
ships which are proceeding to an UNI
named port have abroad 1,l56 officers
and men of the United States cruiser
San Diego. These are in addition TO
the one officer and thirty men pre-
viously reported landed.
The men are said to be in good
condition and so far as known none
was injured.
800 Rumored Missing.
New York, July 20 Reports that
three hundred persisted in the sink
ing of the armored cruiser San Diego
off Fire Island was not confirmed
here today. Considerable confusion
exists as to the number of survivors.
The rumOr that three hundred were
missing was ascribed to sailors land
ing at Fire Island who stated that
eight hundred men had been counted
in life boats and are known to have
gotten away in safety.
Some Believed Lost.
Point O'Woods, N. Y, July 20
Survivors of the United States cruiser
San Diego, sunk ten miles off Fire is
land, declare that many members of
the engine room crew must have been
killed b the explosion which wreck
ed the warship. They were uncertain
whether the vessel was sunk from a
torpedo from a submarine or by a
mine. The cruiser remained afloat
thirty-six minutes after she was
struck!
The torpedo or mine struck the ship
Just aft of amidship, blowing. up the
boilers. One of the sailors declared
the guns of the cruiser were fired
at what appeared to be a periscope.
The survivors who landed here mum.
bered thirty.five, including six officers.
The captain and first officer of the San
Diego were the last to leave the sink
ing cruiser.
Heavy Explosion Heard.
Heavy explosions heard last night
were believed to indicate that some
of the patrol boats which dashed TO
the aid of the cruiser had met a Ger
man submarine and were giving bat
tie.
The explosions continued until aft
er o'clock and marines living here
declared they sounded as If depth
bombs were being dropped.
Several barrels of crude oil, one of
them badly charred, floated ashore
near here and this was believed TO
indicate the possibility that a tank
steamship had also been sunk.
Crew Is Calm.
An hour before the San Diego was
struck a barrel floating through the
water so fast it was believed it might
conceal a periscope was sighted by
The lookout and a double watch was
posted.
According to the survivors there
was no excitement after the explosion.
The courage of the men maintained
the traditions of the navy. All were
provided with life belts and the ships
boats were launched without mishap.
Sailor Rescues Colors.
The colors of the San Diego were
rescued by one of the sailors who land
ed here. The flag had been dashed to
a bit of driftwood and was being held
aloft in the boat when it came ashore.
The jackie who saved the ensign
climbed up the mast to get it and then
lived into the water.
First Official Report.
Washington, D. c., July 20. - The
United States armored cruiser San Di-
ego was torpedoed and sunk by a Ger
man submarine ten miles southeast of
Fire island light at 1880 o'clock yes
terday morning. There was no loss of
life, so far as now known.
The navy department issued this
statement last night.
THE navy department has received
reports from the third district stating
that the U. S. 8. San Diego was sunk
ten miles southeast of Fire island light
ut 1880 o'clock Friday morning. One
officer and two boats crews were land
ed at life saving station No. 81 on
Long Island. other survivors. are in
boats and four steamers are standing
by.
80 far as can be ascertained there
appears to have been no loss of life
The cause Of sinking has not yet been
determined. The San Diego was an
A Bad Road.
Tba paard nf gunaryiGprS of MahaS-