LATER

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13816, 22 July 1918, Page 4

LATER

AMERICAN CRUISER SUNK. X<: I,OSS- or 1.11 E. (Australian and X.Z. Cable Assn.) Heeeivd Julv 21, 12 Mo a.m NI-]\Y YORK. July 20. Ihe remarkable coolness and discip. lillH i n board the San Diego when sinking nude the rescuing of the officers and crew of 529 easy. The ship sank in 15 minutes .liter the explosion. Tlie*survivors were landed by parsing vessels. They told conflicting stori.M Some said the cruiser was torpedoed and that the gunners fired at an object thought to be a periscope until the decks were awash. Others said it was ar. internal explosion or a mine. Many ot the crew were ocmpelled to jump into the w::ter because they stayed aboard until the slim commenced to settle down. One nett.v officer took his battle station at the captain's order when the explosion occurred, and. not being ordered to leave, stood stiffly to attentioir while th» due sank under him and then swam to a lifeboat. -Many hydroplar.es, ('-binl chasers and other naval cral : swent the surrounding sea - lof a possible lurking (*. beat. Some .nembers ef the clew said the:was loss ol lile in Ihe explosion, but the Navy Department reports no loss of life.