The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-03
1t Is Believed Raiders Were
After q. s. Transports.
Boston and New York Ports
Closed by Authorities.
ALL SHIPS ARE HELD UP
Edward H. Cole, Sailing Vessel,
Among the Victims.
Report That Submarine Has
Been Captured UncOnfirmed.

New York, June 3.-German
submarines, operating off the
New Jersey coast, sank several
American vessels during the
night, according to reports
brought in by the crews.
The first attack was made on
the schooner Edwin H. Cole, rs
miles off the Jersey highlands at
a p. M, Sunday. The crew
landed here this morning.
A steamer and several other
ships were said to have been sent
to the bottom at various points
along the coast, as far north as
Nantucket shoals.
Capt. H. G. Newcombe of the
Edwin H. Cole declared that two
U-boats, flying the German nav
al ensign, captured his ship,
after firing a shot across his
bows; gave the men ten minutes
to abandon ship, then blew up
the vessel with bombs
Three officers and twenty
three enlisted men of the navy
were reported missing today
from the torpedoed American
transport President Lincoln.
AS the Americans were taken to the
small boats, they saw one of the sub
marines turn aside and start Off IN
pursuit of a steamer. --.
The campaign of German subma-
rines on the American Atlantic coast,
according to reports received here up
to a late hour today, has netted them
at least one American passenger
steamer and five American schooners
These are the losses definitely
known. Reports of other attacks. in
cluding those on two American tank
ships and another passenger steamer,
came seeping in thru the afternoon
and shipping men fear that the toll
of losses thru this German surprise
attack will be added to.
The ships definitely reported as at
tackled were: Steamer Carolina from
Porto Rico, with 220 passengers
Schooners Edward H. Cole, Jacob S
Haskell, Isabel B. Wiley, Hattie Dun
and Samuel w. Hathaway.
The coastwise steamer City of Co.
lumbus, Savannah for Boston. with
another probable victim of the Ger
man sea raiders.
The attack on the Carolina became
known this afternoon when word was
received here that au S. o. S. call for
help had come from her last night
Her wireless message picked up by
naval vessels stated that submarine
was shelling the vessel and that the
passengers had taken to the boats.
The Carolina is a steel steamer o.
1896. She is 3S1.5 feet long and ha.
q beam of AIS feet.
The steamer originally was tn,
steamer La Grande Duchesse of tn.
Plant line and later was the City OF
Savannah, owned by the Ocean Steam.
ship company of Boston.
Sunk by Gunfire.
wireless message saving thu
American schooner Isabel B. Vile,
had been Sunk by gunfire off Block
island was picked up by an Ameri
can steamship. which arrived here to.
day from the West Indies. First re.
ports were that the vessel reported de.
stroyed was the schooner Ella NJ VIII
ley. but inquiry developed this vesse
Is in European waters.
The Isabel B. Wiley, from New Yorl
for South American port, left Nor
folk yesterday and as she was to con
tinue her voyage to the south. II is q q
sumed here that the part of the radio
gram reading "off Block island" wa,
misread b. the steamship bringing the
report. Block island is off the end o
Long Island.
The steamship picked up two othe,
messages. saying other vessels haf
been sunk. The names of these yes
sells were not mentioned
The texts of the messages were no
made public. but officers on the shi,
said they indicated sinkings took MIA e,
today. o
One Boat Gave Battle,
AT least one large merchant steam
ship gave battle to a German snhma