The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-06-03
HUN SUBMARINES
ON THIS SIDE
Continued from page IT,

| 4
the department yesterday and immed-
lately boat chasers and other Amerl-
lean anti-submarine craft were sent to
the vicinity in which the enemy was
reported to be operating.
The complete naval department Of
fetal statement was as follows:
The navy department has been in
formed that three American schooners
have been sunk off the American
coast by enemy submarines. The
steamship Bristol, arriving at New
York this morning. reported hat the
four masted schooner Edward II. Cole
was sunk by submarine at $50 p. III.
Sunday fifty miles south of BarneSal,
in. j., and that the Bristol rescued
the crew and brought them to port.
1T also rescued the crew OF an
other sailing vessel. which was sunk.
The Bristol reported that she encoun-
tered a submarine thirty eight miles
off Barnegat at 4 80 p. m. Sunday and
that two submarines were operating in
that locality.
The steamship Grecian reported
that the schooner Jacob S. Haskell
was sunk by gun fire by German
submarine in the same general VI
cinity at noon Sunday. 1ne crew
was rescued.
1T was also reported that the Isa-
bella D. Wiley was shelled by sub
marine.
Captain Newcombe of the Cole
stated 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 small
Her gun amidships. He stated that he
saw distinctly one other submarine
beside the one which attacked him,
the second submarine being in the
near vicinity submerged, with peri
scope showing"
Only short time before the an
nouncement was made, Secretary Dan
liels had parted questions concerning
reports OF u boat chaser activities
near Cape May last night. His only
comment was that naval boats were
accustomed to get busy over any re-
port that their services might be need
ed. But he refused to confirm or de-
nv that the chasers had been operat-
ing last night.
At the same time discussion of re-
cent reports of submarine activities
off the coast arose and Daniels admit
ted that the navy ''is more vigilant
now" than two weeks ago. He gave
as the reason the fact that the Presi-
dent Lincoln was sunk far OF the
European coasts while persistent
stories Of U boats off the American
coast have reached the department
from time to time. One Of the first OF
the recent stories was wireless from
an American merchant transport, IN
bound, saying she was being chased
by a submarine. At about the same
time, a report OF a submarine IN the
Florida straits was heard. The check
ing up process, however, failed 70
prove that any U boats were operat-
ing at that time OF the United States.
Many Rumors Today.
BOSTON, June .3.-Admiral Spenc-
or q Wood ordered the closing Of the
mort. He is in command of opera
tions in the first naval district. Ad-
miraI Wood said he was not surprls.
ed to hear of the q boats being OH
the coast
There are many reports IN Boston
+bis afternoon of American ships
having been destroyed off the Mass.
achusetts coast Provincetown and
other towns on the coasts OF Mass.
achusetts and Maine, however, could
not confirm these rumors-
u Boat Chasers on Trial.
WASHINGTON, June 3.-The navy
department has received word OF the
alleged presence of German suoma
rines less than seventy-ftve miles Oh
| the New Jersey coast.
n boat chasers have been dispatch
ed out OF the navy yard at Philadel
phia as a result Of the reported pres
ence of the enemy near American
shores.
The navy official statement follows:
| ..The navy department has been in
formed that three American schoon
ers have been sunk off the American
coast by enemy submarines"
on Lookout for Castaways.
ATLANTIC CITY, N. j., June g.
Life saving stations along the Jersey
coast this afternoon were ordered to
he on the lookout for castaway crews
lof German submarine victims.
All Hands Safe.
BOSTON, Mass, June 3.-Captair
INewcombe, of the schooner Edwin II
Cole, sunk by submarine off the
coast, telephoned owners OF the yes
sci here today to report all hands safe
He said the German commander
gave the crew ten minutes to abandon
ship, but that they were all clear IL
half that time.
The Cole was freighter, carrying a
cargo of $500 tons of coal from Nor
folk to Portland, Maine.
Port of Boston Closed.
BOSTON. June 3.-The port of Bos
ton was closed this afternoon on &C
count of submarines operating off the
coast.
Two Tank Steamers Sunk.
AN ATLANTIC PORT, June g.