The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-07-26
BLAME U-BOAT FOR
CRUISER SINKING.
NAVY DEPARTMENT REPORTS:
LOSS OF SAN DIEGO OFF LONG
ISLAND COAST
CASUALTIES NOT YET KNOWN.
Until Statements of Survivors Estab--
ish That Vessel Was Sunk by
Sub, Possibility Exists that
Mine is Responsible

Washington, July 20.-Announce-
ment by the navy department last
night that the United States armoredf
cruiser San Diego had been sunk off
the Long Island coast, indicated Ger
man submarines may again be operat-
ing in American waters. The cause
of the vessels destruction and the
casualties that may have resulted were
unknown at late hour last night.
The vessel was not regarded as Sc
rious military loss. If she was vic
tim of enemy submarines, it is OBJ
vious the U-boats are in the transport
lanes and close to the entrance of
New York harbor, for the San Diego
went down 10 miles southeast of Fire
Island.
Until the statements of survivors
definitely establish the vessel was
sunk by torpedo there will be pos
sibility that she struck a drifting de-
Tense or was sent down by accidental
internal explosion or otherwise.
Navy Statement.
The only formal statement issued
by the department was based on first
reports. IL IOi1OWS.
''The navy department has received
reports from the third naval district
stating that the U.NS. S. San Diego
was stink 10 miles southeast of Fire
Island light at II 80 O'Clock Yesterday
One officer and two boats
crews were landed at lifesavsng sta
ton No. 50 on Long Island. Other
survivors are in boats and four steam
ers are standing by.
$50 far as can be ascertained there
appears to have been no loss of life
The cause of the sinking has not yet
been determined The San Diego was
an armored cruiser of 1860 tons dis
placement and carried a complement
If lila officers and men,
Late last night the navy department
would add nothing TO this statement
md officers professed TO have no in
formation as to the cause of the loss
IL the number of survivors. 1t was
apparent officials were prepared to
lear some lives were lost, despite the
optimistic tone of the initial dis
patches.
Previous sinkings had shown the
Germans were capable of carrying
warfare to the very doors
# America. The San Diego was the
irst major warship to be lost since
he country entered the war, as none
ut commercial coastwise ships fell
rey TO the submersibles on their first
aid. and in the war zone none but
estroyers, transports and small pa
rol boats have been successfully at
lcked.
Naval officials maintained they had
o information on which to base
elief the submarines had come
gain.
Start to Hunt Raider.
The official dispatches to the navy
apartment last night were so far be-
ind the news reports of the disaster
nd so lacking in details that little
fficial opinion could be formed. The
'ss of the San Diego aroused war
brit and a popular cOmmotion far
the news of the great drive
' American troops in France, which,
) proposition of military impor-
lnce is of vastly more concern than I.
lis loss. All agencies the navy de-
has at its command for
uniting the submarines are in ac-
on and officials are confident of
eir ability to protect the coasts. If
lother raid has been started with
lie object of popular agitation to
luse the return of American naval
rces in the war zone, it will I'M
prove in that respect
lure.