The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1918-08-12
U-BOATS SINK
THREE VESSELS
OFF EAST COAST
F Fishermen Believe Sub Com
mander Was Formerly in u.
S. Fisheries Service.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12-German
submarine raiders operating off the
north Atlantic coast have destroyed
three more vessels, the navy depart
ment today announced. The British
steamer Penistone of 4139 gross tons
was torpedoed 100 miles east Of the
Nantucket light ship yesterday morn
ing. the Swedish steamed Sydland of
3031 gross tons, was sunk by bombs
August s, 100 miles southeast of Nan
tucket. and an American schooner re-
ported as the Herman Winter, but
whose identity has not been definitely
esta blished, was destroyed by gun fire
yesterday 200 miles east of New York.
All mem bers of the crew of the Sgd,
land were reported saved, but the
navy's dispatches did not clear up the
fate of the crews of the other vessels
Later reports to the navy depart
ment revealed that the dispatch relat-
ing to the Herman Winter had been
garbled in transmission. The coasting
steamer Herman Winter had reported
that fishing schooner had been sunk
on Sunday off the Massa chusetts
coast. The name of the craft was not
given.
Recognize Commander.
GLOUCESTER, Mass, Aug. 12-
Fishermen claimed to have identified
the commander Of German sub
marine which has been sinking fish
ing boats off the Atlantic coast as a
skilled navigator formerly in the
United States fisheries service. Two
men from different schooners that
were sunk claim to have recognized
former acquaintance who had
changed little except that he had
grown a beard since they last saw
him.
BRITISH MERCHANTMEN SUNK
AN ATLANTIC PORT, Aug. IA
British Merchant steamer was sunk
recently off the North Atlantic coast,
according to the second officer of the
German submarine which sent nine
fishing schooners to the bottom off
Georges Banks Saturday and Sunday.
This report was given members of the
Kate Palmer, fishing schooner,
when they were taken aboard the u
boat. The fishermen did not learn the
name of the Britisher, but were in
formed that she had two smokestacks.
The men were brought here early to-
day aboard the Auxiliary schooner,
Helen Murley, after having been set
adrift in dory by the submarines
commander. They reported that prob
ably sixty fishermen were cast adrift
in small boats after the U-boat's at
tack upon the fleet Naval and ma
rine men expected, however, that most
of these would be picked up today
The crew of the Palmer reported
that probably thirty sailing vessels
were in the immediate vicinity at the
time Of the attack. They said they
heard firing nearly all day Saturday.
The rescued men included Captain Ed
ward Russell of the Kate Palmer, and
three of the crew. After their sur
render they were orderd alongside the
submariservible and taken aboard.
Immediately they were sent below and
kept there for about an hour while the
submarine pr - ,eded in a westerly di-
rection. Later they were told to get
into their dory and were cast adrift.
They were picked up five hours later
by the Murley.
They did not see their schooner
sunk, but assured she was destroyed
by bomb. ..
The fishermen reported that the
submarine was 300 feet long and car
ried a crew of about 70 men A six
inch gun was mounted forward and
smaller one astern. The second offic-
er told them the submersible could
make q knots on the surface.