Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-07-20
HUN SUBMARINE RESPONSIBLE
FOR LOSS OF WARSHIP

New York, July 19.-German sub
marines appear to have renewed OPP
erations off the American coast
The armored cruiser San Diego was
sunk not far from the entrance of New
York harbor today Circumstantial
reports reaching here indicate that
she was torpedoed.
There were also reports tonight,
though not confirmed. that other
ships had been attacked, one being
described az coastwise passenger
ship.
Whether there had been a toll OF
lives taken on the San Diego was not
known up to the late evening hours.
Not more than 1886 had been accounted
for out of a crew of 1.l44 men aboard
the warship, Of which some 400
reached New York on a tank steam
ship at 10 o'clock tonight, Thirty-two,
a lieutenant, an ensign and thirty
sailors were landed In lifeboats this
afternoon on the Long Island shore. Z,
Survivors were reported to have
been picked up by other ships. how
ever. and to ba on their way to New
York
The San Diego was sunk at 1880 a.
m, about ten miles southeast of Fire.
island light, which Is off the shore
about fifty miles east of the entrance
to New York harbor and on the ma
rine highway OF Trans Atlantic ships
bound in and out of the port
Although the navy department. an
nounced that the cause of the loss OF
the San Diego had not bean deter
mined, information received from re-
liable sources In the afternoon In
dicated submarines had been operat-
ing off the coast and that she had
been torpedced. There were ruinoi a
that the cruiser had been III collision.
also that she had struck a mine, but
reports current where survivors land
ed on the Long Island shore bore out
the indications that A German subma-
rine had been responsible for the
loss.
Inhabitants Of Bay Shore and Baby
Ion said they heard gun fire AMI ex-
plos'ons a: sea shortly before noon.
The thirty ,tw. officers and sailors
came ashore In three boa 8 between
3 and D. m. at Point Of Woods, which
Is a remote sard pit. They were heid
a the coast guard station. where in
euirers were larred.
The firing continued during the af-
ternoon and in the evening, the viii,
idbefS TepoTteu. Inc reason Tor te
could only be conjectured. Fleets of
submarine chasers 1t Is known, put
out from New York and other coast
ports upon receipt OF the news of the
disaster and destroyers were also
rushed to the scene.
Seven merchant steamers were re-.
ported to have responded to the 8. o.
S. calls of the san Diego and shore
wireless stations and to have stood by
picking up survivors.
Crews Of the Fire Island and Oak
Island coast guard left for the scene
OF the disaster and had not returned
at 1890 o'clock tonight. Details OF
the San Diego's destruction remained
yelled tonight, except for a story told
by an unidentified naval aviator on
patrol. who apparently witnessed thu
disaster from the air
The story as obtained by villagers,
was that while flying along the Long
Island shore, he saw the San Diego
suddenly list and later saw hundreds
of men struggling in the water. He
Immediately sped for the Point OF
Woods, where he landed, got into
communication with wireless sta-
ton which he ordered to send out 8,
o. s. calls.