Omaha daily bee., 1918-06-07

STEAMER
SUNK BY
TORPEDO
British Vessel Sent Down by
U-Boat Without Warning 100
Miles Off Virginia Capes;
Crew Rescued.
(By Associated Press.

Washington, June b.-Slnk-
ing of the British steamship
Harpathian 100 miles off the
Virginia capes at 8 o'clock yes
terday morning by a German
submarine was announced to-
night at the Navy department.
The entire crew was rescued
by the steamer Palmer, which
arrived late today in Chesa-
peake bay.
The submarine used a tor
pedo. One member of the Brit
ish crew was injured. The
Harpathian was a freighter of
$500 tons net. .-.
RAIDERS GO TO SEA.
The submarines operating off the
coast had not previously been heard
from since the Norwegian steamer
Eidsvold was sent down at 5 o'clock
Tuesday afternoon, 40 miles off the
Virginia capes. The Harpathian was
sunk about 90 miles further out to
sea, indicating that the underwater
craft had gone further into the At
lantic to escape patrol boats.
The raiders apparently operated III
a comparatively small area Tuesday
and Wednesday. The French steam
eryRadeoleine was attacked off Mary
land early Tuesday. and about the
same time the schooner Edward K.
Baird, Jr., was sunk further down the
coast. That afternoon the Eidsvold
was sunk near the capes. the raiders
having escaped southwark through
the patrol fleets.
Waiting for Bigger Prey.
The fact that the submarines are.
braying the dangers from the patrols
which are converging around the area
Of operations, leads officials to be-
lieve that the raiders arc waiting for
much bigger prey than they have yet
found. The place where they have
operated most recently is i'll the lane
of travel up and down the coast and
through it must pass much of the i'm
portant shipping going in and out of
the Virginia capes.
The sinking OF the Harpathian
brings the total of vessels known to
have been sent down on this side of
the Atlantic by the raiders to A.
six steamers and eight schooners.
All the vessels were American ex-
cept the Eidsvold and Harpathian.
Adrift rs Hours. n
An Atlantic Port, June 6.-Captain
Owen and the crew of the British
steamer Harpathian, /torpedoed and
sunk off the Virginia capes early yes
terday morning, were landed here to-
night by the steamer Palmer. They
were rescued at sea after drifting for
26 hours in small boats.
Captain Owen said his ship sank
quickly and that he and the crew
barely had time to launch the life
boats. He was certain that it was a.
torpedo and not mine that struck
the vesseN Customs officials who
look charge of the crew would no.
permit the captain to discuss the sink
ing further.
Fires Upon Submarine.
According to the captain of Brit
ish steamer in port today. he ex-
changed shots with submarine June
II about 40 miles off the Delaware
capes. The submarine ordered the
ship to stop. according to the cap
tain, but he refused and opened fire
on the U-boat, the latter replying with
several shots. The gunners aboard the
steamer believe they made hit, the
captain said.
Passes Through War Zone.
New York, June 6.-The Brazos,
companion ship of the Carolina,
sunk by German submarine last
Sunday, witt. a loss of 16 lives,
has arrived at Porto Rican
port, the New York Porto Rico
Steamship company announced here
tonight. The Brazos carried 200 pas
sengers and steamed through the
zone in which U-boats were operat-
ing.
Damaged Tanker. Docked.
Philadelphia. June 6.-With the
Stars and Stripes waving gaily from
her stern, the American tanker. Her.
bert L. Pratt, damaged by a mine off
the Delaware capes last Monday. ar
rived at its dock here today and at
once began unloading its cargo of oil
hat German submarine was un-
fble to send to the bottom of the
ocean. The only outward evidences
Its experiences were patches of fresh
black paint on its bow and furniture
and other fittings scattered about
deck.