Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 August 1914 — ENGLISH SINK SHIPS [ARTICLE]

ENGLISH SINK SHIPS

CRUISERS WERE DESTROYED. War Vessels Were In Pursuit of Liner Lusitania —Two Steamers Reach Port. New York, Aug. 7.—The liner Uranium reported on her arrival here that she had intercepted a wireless message from a British cruiser to the liner Lusitania saying that two German cruisers that had been pursuing the Lusitania had been sunk by the British warship. If the news brought by the Uranium is confirmed, a naval battle has been fought less than 200 miles from Neiy York It ie probable that if two German cruisers were sunk the Lusitania was sent out as a decoy and the kaiser's ships caught in a cleverly planned trap. The Karlsruhe and Dresden are the two German ships that have been most frequently mentioned as lying east of the United BEates in wait for British liners. The Karlsruhe, although a small boat, was one of the fastest and neweM ships in the German navy. The boat made 27 knots on her trial trip in 1912 and is said to have exceeded that time in tests since then. Th® Karlsruhe went into commission In 1912. She wais of 4,832 tons displacement, carried 12 four-inch guns and a number of smaller guns. Her officers and crew numbered 370. The Dresden went into commission in 1906. She was 386 feet long, of 3,592 tons displacement and had a speed £f 24.5 knots She carried, in addition to some smaller guns, ten four-inch guns and two torpedo tubes. She carried 361 men. Halifax, N. S., Aug. 7.—Convoyed by the British cruiser Essex, the Cunard liner Mauretania, on her way to New York from Liverpool, with 1,400 passengers aboard, steamed into Halifax harbor.

While at sea the Mauretania sent a wireless to the Essex stating that a German cruiser was following her and asked assistance. The Essex came up Immediately and stood by the Mauretania until she came into. port. As soon as she had safely convoyed the Mauretania into port the Essex went to sea again at full speed to give aid to the Lusitania which is on her way to Europe and wiselessed for assistance.