Posted inAviation World War 1

Greatest Defeat of War Crushes German Zeppelin Airfleet

picture of several men examining the frame of a crashed zeppelin

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23.—Germany probably lost one-half of her total effective fleet of super-Zeppelins as a result of the raid of October 20 over England, according to official cablegrams received here. All France is exultant over what the dispatches declare to be the greatest defeat administered to an air fleet since the beginning of the war. The gratification is more intense because it is now known that the German raid was an attempt to carry out a fearful threat of vengeance made four days before.

On that occasion the German government sent out a warning to both France and England of dire punishment to follow what the Germans declared to be unwarranted and inhuman attacks by British and French aviators upon peaceful German towns. Reprisals were threatened in an official German communication, which in part reads:

Posted inMaritime & Naval History Ship Histories World War 1

Cassin, in Fight, Fought Off Boat

Submarine Bettered in Battle With American Vessel

Damage to USS CASSIN, torpedoed on 15 October 1917, by German submarine U-61. Photographed while under repair in England.
Damage to USS CASSIN, torpedoed on 15 October 1917, by German submarine U-61. Photographed while under repair in England.

Washington, Oct. 23.—Coolness and quick maneuvering by Commander Walter H. Vernon saved the American destroyer Cassin from possible destruction in an encounter with a German submarine in the war zone on October 16, the Navy department was advised yesterday by Vice-Admiral Sims in his full report of the fight. Meagre details of the incident were received last week, but the destroyer’s name was withheld until yesterday.

Before she had an opportunity to fire a shot, the destroyer was hit on the stern by a torpedo, which killed Gunner’s Mate Osmond Kelly Ingram, slightly wounded five others of the crew, and put one engine out of commission.

The Cassin had been searching half an hour for a submarine first sighted five miles away when Commander Vernon suddenly saw a torpedo 400 yards distant and making for the ship at great speed. He ordered full speed ahead and the wheel hard over. The patrol boat was just clear of the torpedo’s path when the projectile broached on the surface, turned sharply, and hit its objective.

Posted inWorld War 1

Full Story of Cruise of Famous German Raider Seeadler Is Related

The German auxiliary cruiser SMS Seeadler capturing the French bark Cambronne off the Brazilian coast on 20 March 1917. Depicted by Willy Stöwer.

Naval Department Makes Public Interesting Account of Exploits of Kaiser’s Seamen on Board American Vessel Which Had Been Taken From English Prize Force While Sailing For Kirkwall

Washington, November 10.—The full story of the cruise of the German commerce raider Seeadler has been obtained by the navy department from Capt. Haldor Smith of the American schooner R. C. Slade, and three other mariners, who landed at Tutuila in an open boat September 29 after being marooned on Mopeha Island by the master of the Seeadler when the raider grounded and was abandoned.

The Seeadler, formerly the American ship Pass of Balmaha, belonged to the Boston Lumber company, and was in the Nova Scotia trade before the war. After the war broke out she was put under the American flag and was captured by the British and a prize officer was put aboard her with instructions to taKe her to Kirkwall, Scotland. On the way she was captured by a German submarine and sent to Bremen, and fitted out as a raider. A picked crew was placed aboard, some of whom spoke Norwegian, and sent out into the Atlantic under the guise of a Norwegian ship.

Posted inDaily News

Fist Fight in State Senate

The Tacoma Times, Tacoma, WA, January 16, 1917

Olympia, Jan. 16 — Great commotion was caused on the floor of the senate this morning when Senators Howard Taylor of King and Tom Brown of Whatcom engaged in a fist fight.

Brown had accused Taylor of trying to make himself “King of the Senate,” and had made other accusations against him.

Taylor had offered Brown “to go Into the ante-room and repeat what he said, but Brown had refused, saying that he would repent his accusations on the floor.

Taylor reached over Brown’s desk and struck him a resounding whack full in the face.