The sun., 1918-04-16
CYCL0PS' FATE
STILL MYSTERY
Navy Department Bafflcd by
Golfers Strange Vanishing,
but Continues Search.
FRENCH WARSHIPS HELP
Damage to Engine Was Merely
Broken Cylinder Head
Carried 5 Inch Guns.
FRENCH WARSHIPs HELP
Special DespoteA to TnI suv

Special Despofeh to THE SuH
WARRINGTON. April I5-F>urther in
formation obtained in naval circles to-
day concerning the missing naval collier
Cyclops only served to deepen tho mys-
terry surrounding that vessels disap-
pearance.
Secretary Daniels and Officers at the
Navy Department said tonight that
they were absolutely banned and with
out the faintest tangible clue ~ to why
the ship has not been heard from since
March 1.
Tho Cyciops sailed from the Barba.
dos Islands. west Indies. for an At
lAntic port March I. The trip should
not have taken moro than nins daya
Present Known Facts.
These facts were made known to-day
in connection with the cyclops and her
last trip:
The 10000 ton collier. ono Of the
three finest In the service. was armed
viii, fve inch guns and carried am
munition for use in case she was at
tackled.
The Cyclops did not have one OF her
engines out OF commission as reported
In the navy's statement last night.
but merely had q broken cylinder
head. which would not have rendered
this engine useless. as the engine
could have been run on two cylinders.
The accident TO the cylinder head
occurred while tho chip was en- route
for Brazil and she made the trip
De- III
out difficulty. 1t Is estimated by naval
officers that even with one engine the
vessel could have made ten knots
speed.
The Cyclops was equipped with
reciprocating engines and powerful
wireless apparatus.
Cnconfirmed reports have reached
here that one member Of the crew
Of the Cyclops told friends OF having
received a message Of warning that
the vessel would be blown up. This
report. which may be mere gossip.
has nevertheless been given corAid-
Grafton for what It Is worth.
French warships Aid Search.
Secretary Daniels stated to-day that
the Navy Department had been conduct
ing systematic search for the ship
since March 13. her scheduled time to
arrive at an Atlantic port. Vessels of
the American navy have combed the
steamship routes along the coast and
have followed the course which the
Cyclops was to have taken in her trip
from the Barbados.
These vessels have put into various
ports along the route and made In.
ouiries. with a view to obtaining some
trace OF the missing ship. but nothing
whatever has resulted from their ef.
forts so far.
French war vessels. II was announced
to-day. also are taking part in the
islands in tho West Indies, In the hope
that some clue may be discovered.
After sitting all evidence which IL
admittedly Of u purely speculative char.
acter. naval officers are inclined to
believe that the ship must have me,
her end very suddenly. II she has been
lost. as now appears probable. On
no other theory can these officers ac.
count for tho absolute lack Of new.
via wireless.
II Is admittedly possible that som.
German raider might have attacked the
Cyclops and shot away the wireless
with tho nrst shot. but this seems hardl,
likely. especially as there has been nc
evidence Of a German raider in tn,
waters through which the Cyclopl
steamed. Besides. 1t Is felt that n 6
German raider powerful enough to &C
count for tho Cyciops had put In ap
pearance her depredations on othei
ships would have been reported befor,
| neW.
May Have Been Captured.
It Is conceivable that the raider ma,
have captured tho Cyclops and nov
have her In tow somewhere. but thli
theory also implies shooting away th'
wireless in the carly stages Of an en-
gagement.
The theory Of an internal explosion
! either through the work OF some enem!
agent aboard the vessel or by accident
| seems more likely than others advanced
| to some naval authorities here, but the!
believe that even In this case ther,
would have been some sign OF wreck
age which would have been picked III
| - srs forty-two days since the Cyclop
| i---.xarbados. There has been no recort
| Of West Indian storm to account To-
her disa appearance.
Mr.. Daniels made II clear to-day tina
| tho navy Is not going to abandon tn
search and that meantime he will hop
a1nl0nk h0nA