The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-07-19
GERMAN CRUISER is
SUNK BY AIR BOMBS
Frankfurt Settles Off Capes
26 Minutes After Receiv-
inc Death Blow.
STRUCK BY II MISSILES
Army and Navy Airplanes
Cooperate in Bombard-.
ing Vessel.
ARMOR GIVES PROTECTION
Explosion Beneath Keel
Caused Warship's Ulti-
mate Destruction.
ARMOR GIVES PROTECTION

Special Despatch to THE New TonK HEaALn.
WITH THE ATLANTIC FLEET OFF THE
VIRGINIA CAPEs, July 13.--Just when it
began to look as if airplanes would be
unable TO sink the German cruiser
Frankfurt, after much intermittent
firing, squadron Of army f1iers ar
rived from Langley Field this after
noon and dropped fourteen bombs,
sending the vessel to the bottom of
the sea in thirty-sev minutes.
The sinking came as the most i'm
portant development Of the airplane-
war ship tests so far held under the
joint auspices of the army and the
navy, to guide the future armament
policy Of the United States, 1t re-
quiced seventy-eight bombs, of which
twelve were direct hits
Sinks in Twenty-six Minutes.
stove in. perhaps as far back as her mid
die. the Frankfurt. OF 5000 tons dis
placement settled on an even keel and
went down by the bow twerty-six min
utes after the vital shot was fired. The
bombs used weighed 600 pounds apiece.
1t was the twelfth of the fourtes n
heavy bombs cropped that did the bust
ness There were only three more 10
60. when, under the decision of the
Board of Observers. an effort was TO be
made to sink the cruiser by destroyer
fire. as the terms of the allieo agree
ment by which the United States ob-
tanned the Frankfurt and other one time
German war vessels for experiments re-
quire them to be sunk.
The army and navy flying services
cooperated in the attack on the Frank
firt. whish, heavily armorcd, withstood
and early afternoon tina, it seemed
doubtful If the airplanes would succeed
with their mission. The early firing
was with light bombs, weighing ESQ and
500 pounds apiece, but they did only
superficial damage. smashing up the
decks and superstructure. but in no way
injuring the vessels vital parts.
The craftsmanship OF the bonbers
as a whole was remarkably accurate
Only a few of the bombs went into
the water close TO the side of the vessel
theoretically an extremely vital place.
intended 10 cave in the side.
The bomb that caused the sinking fell
near the vessel, just off the starboard
t.A,.- hn.. .xv.t 81 tAs. "A
muffled roar Of which could be heard
for miles. sent the Frankfurt bounding
fully six feet upward above her water
line. great spout of water shot up on
both sides of the vessel, evidence that
the explosion had come directly under
the forward keel.
Two Bombs Hit Deck.
From that instant it was evident that
the Frankfurt would sink. AS she set
tied back again she was lower than be-
fore, and she continued sinking slowly.
Even after the death blow had been
dealt two more bombs were dropped,
both amidships. but we'll off on the port
side. There was jar. a water spout. but
little more. The fatal bomb hit at 20.
five minutes after the Frankfurt had
received a more spectacular blow, that
OF two 600 pound bombs. on the deck, as
direct hits. These fell together from
the 1900 foot altitude, at which the
bombing was being conducted. and then
landed squarely amidships, beside the
three tunnels that were battered and
banged by the earlier firing.
AS these shots hit there was tre-
mendous flash and great clouds OF black
and yellow smoke. All along the side
OF the vessel could be seen high splashes.
evidently pieces OF strip steel that had
been torn loose from the superstructure
The blows set the ship to rocking vio-
lently. but the smoke had cleared away
and the rocking had stopped when the
death bomb struck at 1925
There had been three other flashes
such as these, accomplished by navy
filters. They came from direct hits on
the deck with navy bombs of $40 pounds
They shattered the superstructure OF
the Frankfurt. tearing out and bending
over the side one of the heavy boat
davits. as we'll as ripping up great holes
in the deck and bending and twisting the
steel upper works.
Yet the force of these bombs did not
In the opinion of observers who went 70
the Frankfurt. put her out OF fighting
commission. The bombs, except In one
tiny place, did not pierce the inch and a
half armor plating OF the protective
deck. and none of her guns or machinery
was damaged, Some OF the navy bombs
were buds. one OF these drove through
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