Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-08-10
OIL TANKER SUNK BY SUB.
MARINE

Washington, August 5.-Sinlling of
TIE American tank steamer O. Is. Jcn-
ningS yesterday 100 miles off the Nir-
ginia coast, announced today, revealed
the presence of at least two German
submarines OH this side of tic Allan
tic. The second raider has been opcr
ating off the coast of Nova Scotia and
nearby waters for several days.
The captain and thirteen members
Of the crew Of the jennings havc ar
rived safely at Norfolk, Va, the Navy
Department announced tonight. The
fourteen men, with the thirty previous
~ reported rs having been landed, ac-
counr for all the members Of the tank
cr's crew
The announcement of the Navy De-
partment follows:
"Thc Navy Department Is advised
that the captain and thirteen men OF
the crow of the American tanker o.
b. Jennings, sunk Sund"y by Il sub
marine 100 miles off the Virginia
coast. have arrived safely at Norfolk,
Va The men reached Norfolk in the
small boat in which they left the Jcn
nings. This, With the thirty previous
IL reported rcScuc., accounts for all
the crew.
Presence of another raiGcr in the
voters off the Middle Atlantic coast
where in May and June upwards of
twenty vessels were Sunk, became
known today when the Navy Depart
Mcnt announced the sinking Of the
Jennings and the landing Of from thir
~ TO thirty-two mcrrbcrs If the crow
ut Norfolk by an American patrol
boat.
FULL DETAILS OF SINKING NOT
YET AVAILABLE.
Full details of the sinking Of the
Jennings were lacking tonight, but
from the fact that tho steamer sent
Il wireless message saying she was be-
ing shcled and asking for assistance.
officials assumed that the submarine
opened fire without giving the crew
time to take to the boats though there
was the possibility that the steamer
had undertaken to make Il run for
safety. Patrol boats answered the
radio calls, hut neither the Jennings
nor the submarine was in sight when
they arrived Sunday night at the ro-
sition given by the steamer. La;cr,
survivors were found. j..
The submarine, which has heen
operating for several days in Canadian
waters, is believed by officials to have
sowed the mines Of foreign manufac-
ture picked up off the coast of LONG
Island. after the nrmorcd cruiser San
Diego was sunk near Fire Island, N
Y. July 10. Belief Of officials that one
of these mines caused the destruction
of the cruiser was confirmed to-day by
the report Of the naval court of in
quiry, which expressed the opinion
that the loss of the ship was due tC
an external explosion of a NINE"
SAN DIEGO TAKING THE PROPER
PRECAUTIONS WHEN SUNK.
The court found that the San Diego
was steering a proper course to mini
mize the submarine and mine dangers
in those waters. with careful watch
maintained and The ship zig-zaggine
at speed of fifteen knots. Loss OF
the vessel with the death of six men
was in no way due to any negligence
failure to take proper precautions OF
lnciliciency Of Captain TT. II. Christy
or any Of the ships personnel.
oi>Po w NStl Will lillo ldtcot ldlucl
have been taken by the Navy Depart
mcnt and patrol boats and seaplanes
already are searching the coast waters
Officials reiterated that the movement
OF troops 10 France will not be inter
fercd with.
Latest official information of tht
operations Of tho submarine in Cana
dian waters came to the Navy Depart
mcnt last Friday in the report of g
sinking of a British fishing schooner
Unofficial reports said The submersiblt
was operating there as late as last
Saturday but even if it had started
South she could not have reached the
position where the Jennings was dc
stroyed Sunday.
There were at least two submarines
operating in the first raid which was
confined largely to the waters off tht
Virginia Maryland and New Jersc!
coas,s. II continued three weeks ant
some twenty vessels the majority sal
ing craft were sunk. None however
was Of military value and several O.
them subsequently were raised ant
taken to port for repairs.