Republican farmer., 1918-07-26

Washington July 2o-Belef that the cruiser San Diego sunk by torpedo expressed in dispatch today from chief staff of forces to the navy department
 The dispatch follows:
 The captain of the San Diego reports inclined the belief that the ship sunk by torpedo There no conclusive facts however which base definite opinion at present, in view of following circumstances:
 'i-No torpedo wake
 '2-No convincing evidence that periscope
 3No submarine appeared in spite of the fact that New York harbor far richer prize than the freight and tank steamers sunk during the visit here in May and June
 Information by the navy department early today enroue port with 56 survivors of the Diego aboard taken indicate the number Of lives lost would be sma The landing of 3 survivors vosy reported which would account for the safety 87 cruiser not regarded having had than that number of aboard when she left the Portsmouth N H.. navy yard for New York.
 today that the military loss in the sinking Diego small the cruiser being of compara lively type having been built in 1899 However the Diego the first major warhp to be lost since the United States entered the
 Capt. H. Christy commander cruiser San Diego sunk yesterday off Long Island reported to the navy de- parment today belief the ship tcrpedoed spite the absence of positive evidence of the presence of enemy submarine.
 New York, July 2O-Positive information the cause the sinking of the United States armored cruiser San Diego off Fire Island yesterday before we'll to the loss of life, if any lacking here early today
 Thirty-one sailors who landed at Point O Woods Long Island yesterday said torpedo had the warshp amdshps following which two other explosions occurred Other survivors, among 300 who arrived at this port last night reported have said that either defense mine internal explosion caused the explosion. Other steamers with survivors aboard expected to arrive in New York or other nearby ports during the day.
 Some of the who landed at Point Woods that submarine had been and declared shot had gone home and destroyed the under water craft but officer and most of the other sailors confident that submarine had been
 Varying statements have been made to the loss of e Some of the sailors said many killed and others hurt two explosions but that all who escaped death injury by this cause had been rescued. z
 The sailors landed from the tanker later taken to the Brooklyn navy yard where requests for information ferred to the navy department in Washington
 Within few seconds after the first explosion cruiser according to sailors opened fire with several guns at objects which taken for periscopes.
 The cruiser sank rapidly and disappeared 15 minutes a ter the first explosion went down rapidly according to that hundreds of the did not have time get to boats and forced to plunge the rail into the water where they cung to mprovised ra until picked by life boats A agreed that the discipline board the warshp magnificent and worthy of the best traditions of the
 The quarermaster. according to survivors, remained at post until it was too late himself be saved and calm y sauted hundreds of his comrades he down with the ship. jackie climbed the mast and rescued the color The flag carefully preserved brought ashore e one of the small boats.
 Immediately after the accident great naval activity was observable which seemed to strengthen the report San Diego had been the victim of attack by royers patrol boats and aeropanes reported talk ing part in what seemed search submarines Sounds of heavy firing at heard by residents various points on Long Island last night.
 Reports in circulation that ships had been a lacked but there has been vericaon of these scXXLvJ (1L7T ,EN1,, 7NTENT OE (1DTT5cTD