The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-07-20
Not Sure That The
San Diego Was
TOrpedOed
CAPT THINKS SHE WAS
But Lot Of Circumstances
Discourage That
Theory.
(By Associated Prsss)

NEW YORK. Juy 20.-All the sur.
viVoTS Of the cruiser San Diego, said
10 number over eleven hundred. have
arrived in New York. They were
brought IN during the night on rescu-
ing ships from the scene OF the de
slTuotion Of the cruiser, which was
sunk yesterday off Fire Island Just
east Of New York.
According to the commander OF one
q the resculng ships which brought
IN some 500 OF the crew. the survivors
we're Of the opinion that the San Diego
Wis torpedoed.
DomD Of the survivors were report.
e . have been debarked At HObOken
and t1ansforred 70 tugs which took
them 70 the navy yard in Brooklyn.
olieial Information at the navy
yofd and the Hoboken docks was re.
fused and no civilians were allowed
access 10 the survivors. Whether
lhore was loss Of life was yet un.
known this forenoon and many IN.
Qnirios received at newspaper offices
from relatives and friends OF those
supposed to be on board the cruiser
could not be answered.
WASHINGTON, July 20.-Captain
u. u. Christy. commander OF the ar
morOd cruiser San Diego. sunk yester-
day off Lcr- Island. reported to the
NM depart INT today his belief that
TIE ship was tsgpedoed in spite Of the
absence Of any positive evidence of
ne presence OF an enemy submarine.
The department still is without in.
formation as 10 whether there was
loss Of life though It IL known that
nearly all OF the officers and men OF
tho crew have been landed by rescue
steamers.
Thare was no disorder on the cruiser
The captain said. every man taking his
otatlOn - II In ordinary drill.
The dispatch follows:
ne captain OF the San Diego re-
ports that he incl | TO the belief
nat the ship was INK by torpedo.
Thoro are no conclu We factors, how.
ever. on which TO J. e a definite opin.
lo1 - present. IN view OF the follow
ne circumstances. First. no torpedo
Vdko vas seen; second, no convinc.
Ing evidence that periscope was seen:
oIeo, no submarine appeared in spite
o. no TACT that three unarmed rescue
SIPS were in the vicinity for abOl,
two hours; four. ship was struck on
tho port side abaft team which dis.
oourae0S mine theory; five. weather
vs. fine, sea smooth.
Tho San Diego was bound from the
Portsmouth IN. H. navy yard for New
York when she was sunk. Captain II
II. Cristy was in command. and or
board were 81 officers. 1000 enlisted
men and So marines. The vessel had
been undergoing repairs at the nav.
yard
The San Diego was an armored
cruiser Of 13.6SO tons displacement
an1 carried q complement Of Lila
officers and men,"
This was the first major American
var shiD 70 be sunk by Germany's
U'boat1 and the first war craft to be
sent down n American waters.
he Wa 500 feet long and has a
oesod 81 q knots. Her main arma.
ulo1t consisted Of four s-inch guns in
t1frS,s and - sixinch guns.
NEW YORK. July 1s.-An aviator,
qyln0 along the Long IslanA shore at
o. tllso thO San Diego was sunk
u1lIDod ~ vessel suddenly list and
~ ns)rumsntal IN having an s o.
q - Oolt out from the wireless sta.
~ - nfO Island. according to
st1)luoAl1 b. civilians on the shore
AflR . I'M Investigation, the avia.
~. Wh0os namO could not be learned.
landed q Point Of Woods, near Fire
I0IlAi beach. Getting into telephone
ooDmunlcotioa with the wireless sta.
t.eA. - ordered the operator TO call
~ vessels n the vicinity to the aid of
the Gan DeeO
Sooa amer the s. o. 8. call had beer
raj eat seven or moe0 vessels raced
q Ne Doone and. d1cling around the
Ccasinu0d on page eight