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Show Believes Ship Was Torpedoed But No Evidence of U-Boat Found. OVER 1,100 MEN LANDED Possibility of Floating Mine Muster Roll Not Yet Checked Up. WASHINGTON, July 20. Although Captain Christy of the armored cruiser San Diego reported his belief that it, was a torpedo that sent the ship down off Long Island yesterday, further reports re-ports today showing that five or six mines were destroyed by warships In thla vicinity last night strengthened the opinion of naval officers here that an enemy submarine was not responsible respon-sible for the disaster. Admiral Palmer's statement follows: "Reports received by the navy department de-partment indicate that when tho armored arm-ored cruiser San Diego was sunk the conduct of officers and men was in accordance ac-cordance with tho best traditions of tho navy. "Captain H. H. Christy, the commander, com-mander, was the last man to leave the ship. As tho ship was turning over he mado his way over the side to the top of the armor belt, thence to the bilge keel and jumped overboard from tho docking keel which was then eight feet from tho water. As the captain left the ship the men in tho boats cheered him and the executive officer. They cheered the ship as it went down. As tho flag was raised on the launch the men in the boats sang 'The Star-Spangled Banner.' "When tho vessel was struck, officers offic-ers and men instantly obeyed orders, Koiug lnimeuiaieiy 10 ineir sianons and remaining at their posts until tho order was given 'all hands abandon ship.' Tho ship was abandoned in good order, the men taking to the boats as directed. "American naval vessels found and destroyed five or six mines in that vicinity last night. No reports have been received of any submarine having hav-ing been sighted or any other submarine subma-rine activity in the vicinity." WASHINGTON, July 20. Captain H. H. Christy, commander of the armored ar-mored cruiser San Diego, sunk yesterday yes-terday off Long Island, reported to the navy department his belief that the ship was torpedoed, though there was no positive evidence of the presence pres-ence of an enemy submarine. The department is without information informa-tion as to loss of life, though nearly all of the officers and men of the crew havo landed. There was no disorder, the captain said, every man taking his station as if in ordinary drill. The captain's report showed that the explosion could not have been internal because thero was nothing m the ship at that place to explode. The department depart-ment also has evidence that the ship could not have struck an American mine. Apparently the only possible explanation of the disaster aside from that of a submarine attack is that she encountered a mine dropped by U-boats before they left the American coast. Officials aro certain that some small loss of life will bo found when the muster rolls of the ship have been checked against the list of survivors. The San Diego's muster rolls were lost but a duplicato set is being sent to Washington. Captain Is Praised A statement issued by Rear Admiral Palmer, acting secretary of the navy, commends the exemplary conduct of officers and men of the San Diego, citing particularly the courageous behavior be-havior of Captain Christy, who was the last to leave the ship. As tho ship was turning over the captain made his way over the side and Jumped overboard. Ho and the executive officers were cheered bj' tho men in tho boats and as tho cruiser went down the men sang "The Star Spangled Banner." Tho statement disclosed that five or six mines were destroyed last night in the vicinity of the sinking and that reports havo been received of a submarine sub-marine near there. Chief of Staff Reports WASHINGTON, July 20. Belief that the cruiser San Diego was sunk by a torpedo is expressed in a dispatch dis-patch today from tho chief of staff of cruiser forces to the navy department The dispatch follows: "The captain of the San Diego reports re-ports that he is inclined to the belief that tho ship was sunk by torpedo. There arc no conclusive facts, however, how-ever, on which to baso a definite opinion opin-ion at present in view of following circumstances: cir-cumstances: "1 No torpedo wake was seen. "2 No convincing evidenco that periscope was seen. "3 Submarine did not appear in spite of the fact that three unarmed rescue ships were in the vicinity for about two hours. "i Ship was struck on port side abaft beam, which discouraged mine theorj'. "5 Weather was fine; smooth sea." Survivors Reach N, Y. NEW YORK, July 20. All the survivors sur-vivors of the cruiser San Diego, said to number over eleven hundred, have arrived in New York. They were brought in during the night on rescuing rescu-ing ships from tho cruiser which was sunk yesterday off Firo Island, just cast of New York. According to the commander of one rescuing ship, the .survivors were of tho opinion that tncT San Diego was torpedoed. Some survivors debarked at Hobok-en Hobok-en and were transferred to tugs which took them to tho navy yard in Brooklyn. Brook-lyn. Others -were transferred to tugs down the harbor and also brought to the navy yard. In formation at the navy yard and the Hoboken docks was refused and no civilians were allowed access to the survivors. Whetfier there was any loss of life is yet unknown. oo |