Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-06-14

here today reported that she re-
CeiVed wireless messages from
the British steamer keemun
last night that she was being
attacked by n German subma-
Tine. Two hours later, word
was received from the vessel
that she was sinking.
The kcemun, a vessel of 9.O14
tons, said she was on the Nir-
ginia Capes. She was last re-
ported as leaving Manila
The fate of the vessel was not
learned. The last ship definitely
known to have fallen victim 10
German submarines in American
waters, was sunk on June 10, the
day previous.
If the Keemun has been destroy
ed, this is the largest steamship yet
sunk during the C-boat warfare on
this side of the Atlantic The Kee-
nun, owned by the China Mutual
Navigation company of Liverpool,
was built in Belfast in 1902
It was considered probable here
she carried a number OF passen-
gers
Washington. June 1.-THE navy
department was advised today that
the British steamer ke3mUn had
arrived safe at an Atlantic port.
An American steamer from West
Indian ports arriving here today,
reported thai on Tuesday. off Cape
Hatteras. the vessel picked UP a
wireless call for heIp from ship
between her and shore, which. The
message said was being shelied by
q German submarine.
Ships Held in Port.
Ships ready 10 sail from here lasi
night and today We're held back ou
reports that submarine was ope--
ating is miles off the Virginia
Capes.
ST. Johns. y. +. June l4.-Tha
Cunard line steamship Ascania, 0f
9.1II tons. with passengers. ran
ashore near Roseblanche. off the
southwest coast CT New FOundiaDd
early today and reports to govern
meDt authorities here indicated ynar
she was breaking up. There We're
nine passengers aboard ana all
were taken of with The crew.
New York, June 14.-The con-
mander Of the T-I5l, one of the
German submarines which have
been operating off the American
Atlantic coast has been Identified
as Captain \eUsjidt. and he served
five years as a gunner in the United
States navy. according to aft davits
of officers and sailors on the
schOOners Hattie B. Dunn, Edna and
Hauppauge. victims OF the subma-
rine. The documents were brought
here today by naval reserve officers
arriving from Cuba.
U-B0at Well Armed.
The submarine is manned by
crew of 76. is 210 feet long, % feet
wide. has a shell of q Inch steel;
two SO inch guns mounted fore and
aft. is equipped with two peri
scopes, one over the coming tower
and the other aft, has four station
ary rapid firing guns on deck, be
low decks, in racks, carries 100
rapid fire rifles, and has aboard
is torpedoes, according to the Off
davits.
Captain Neustidt told his .,tivcs,
they said, that his vessel left kiel
April IA, and up to June had sunk
Is ships. six OF which were Amer
ican. From the schooner Isabel Is.
Wiley, the commander declared he
took enough food TO provision his
craft for six weeks.
Hated TO Sink L. 5. Ships.
The U-boat skipper prOfessed re-
luctance to sink American vessels
but said he had no alternative as he
had been ordered by wireless from
KieI TO get busy or come home"
The food taken from the Wiley,
TIE men declared, was badly need
ed. as the raiders provisions con-
sisted mainly Of black bread, poor
coffee, stewed fruit and potato soup.
Nineteen survivors of the three
American sChOOners were pick
ed UP by the south bound American
steamer. of which II members Of
the crews of two of the schooneTs
had been prisoners on the U-boat.
During this time, the men said,
they were put to work polishing
and cleaning torpedoes carried in
the hull of the U-boat.
The naval reserve officers who
examined them we're officers of the
American steamer.
The seamen who made the affi-
dayits were those who were picked
up by a south bound American
steamer after being held prisoners
board the submarine for eight
days and set adrift The American
steamer took them to Cuba where
they were examined by the naval
reserve off icers.
The afidavits give details also Of
he submarines construction and
armament.
(By the Associated Press.l
The German admiralty, according
% official advices from Holland, is
a bout to declare the eastern coast
IF the United States, from Canada
o Mexico, a danger zone. This
warming comes after is vessels, in /
,luding several neutrals. have been
sunk off the Atlantic coast.