The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-03


had not been received this afternoon,
but the report was that they had fall
len victims to the enemy somewhere
Off the New England coast
The Hattie Dunn, a three masted
schooner, was las feet long with IS
feet beam. Her tonnage was 365. She
was built at Thomaston, Me-, in 1884.
The Samuel w. Hathaway. q four
masted schooner, was built at Brewer,
Mass, in 1902.
Nantucket Report Denied.
Providence, June 3.-Narragansett
bay was closed to outgoing vessels this
morning by order of the commandant
of the naval station at Newport.
1t was stated at the office of the
commandant of the first naval district
today that there was no truth in the
report that a vessel had been sunk by
submarines off Nantucket shoals. The
Office Investigated thoroly the report
that transport had been torpedoed.
Line Passenger Attacked.
A wireless s. o. S. call from New
York and Porto Rico line passenger
steamer Carolina, saying she was be-
ing attacked by submarine, was re-
ceived here today.
The Carolina, with 22O passengers
aboard and 100 in her crew, was
bound for an Atlantic port at which
she is this afternoon twelve hours
overdue.
Washington Makes Statement.
Washington, June 3.-Naval author
tiles said that up to the time of the
Associated Press dispatch telling of
the destruction of American ship
ping off the New Jersey coast by Ger
man submarines were received in
Washington the navy department had
no positive information of the pre-
sence of raiders in home waters.
The submarines undo LbtedlV were
looking for American transports. Hav-
ing been checked by the American de-
stroyer flotilla in the war zone, the
German admiralty apparently has con-
fare to the doors of America in hope
of stopping the flow of troops which
will turn the balance against the CEN
trail powers on the western front.
The navy department later an
nounced that it had received an Of
fetal report that three American
schooners had been sunk off the coast
by enemy submarines.
Word has been passed along the
Atlantic coast to be on the watch for
crews OF ships sunk by submarines.
All of the government life guard sta
lions have been communicated with.
but up to IL o'clock no disaster had
been reported.
The port of Boston was closed at
noon. Narragansett Bay had been
closed earlier and every precaution
against the appearance of German u
boats on the New England coast was
taken.
Protection Is Adequate.
If the German admiralty expects to
because a great force of American de-
stroyers have been concentrated IL
the war zone around the British Isles.
1T will be mistaken, naval officials
say. While the anti-submarine craft
In the war zone are in large number
the protection of the steamer lanes
On this side of the Atlantic has not
been overlooked and it is said there
are adequate forces in home waters
to meet them.
The torpedoing of ships off Barne-
gat, N. j., followed by the report of
more destruction off Nantucket shoals
nearly 200 miles to the east was taken
as indication that the hostile subma-
r1nes were operating in number and
that the plan Of the German admiralty
probably was to concentrate the
U-boats in a practical blockade Of the
principal ports of embarkation being
used for American transports.
Recurrent reports of German SUBJ
marines on this side of the Atlantic
have been closely examined by the
navy department during the last
week. Reports of one German SUBJ
marine near the Virginia capes were
current in Hampton Roads Saturday
night. 1t was said navy flying boats
submarine chasers and other anti
submarine craft in that district went
to sea in search of the raiders. The
master Of a British vessel arriving at
Norfolk on May 27, reported having
fired some shots at a submarine about
$50 miles off Cape Henry.
Other incoming ships at all ports
for the last few daN also have
brought reports of sighting sub
marines.
Navy Department Statement.
A navy department statement an
nouncing the sinking says:
THE navy department has been in
formed that three American schooners
have been sunk off this coast by
enemy submarines.
1.-The steamship Bristol, arriving at
New York this morning, reported that
the four masted schooner Edward H.
Cole was sunk by submarines at $3.50
p. m. Sunday, fifty miles southeast of
Barnegat, N. J., and that the Bristol
port.
"It also rescued the crew of another
sailing vessel which was sunk. The
Bristol reported that she encountered
a submarine 80 miles off Barnegat at
1920 p. M, Sunday, and that two sub
marines were operating in that To-
cality.
1.-The steamship Grecian reports that
the schooner Jacob S. Haskell was
sunk by gunflre by a German subma-
rine in the same general vicinity at
noon Sunday. The crew were rescued.
ut was also reported that the Isa-
bella D. Wiley was shelled by SUBJ
marines.
Captain Newcomb of the Cole stat
ed that his vessel was attacked by a
German submarine, which boarded
him, took away his papers and placed
bombs on board. The captain and
crew took to the boats. Captain New
combe stated that the submarine
which attacked him was about 200
feet long and carried two large guns
one forward and one aft and a smaller
gun amidships. He states he saw dis
tinctly one other submarine beside the
one which attacked him. the second