South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-06-25
SUBMARINE MAKES
DARING DASH INTO
TEUT0N SQUADRON
Russian Underwater Craft Tor
pedoes One WarShip and
Escapes After Sustaining
Damage in Collision.

PETROGRAD, June 25.-Thriliing
details of a fight between a Russian
submarine and a squadron of German
warships are given in an official state
ment issued here today. TIE subma-
rine torpedoed on the German war
ships but Immediately after cOllided
with its victim, sustaining severe
damages
Despite the damage the submarine
managed TO escape
The official report of the sub
marines exploit follows:
The submarine picked up the
smoke of the enemy's vessels on the
horizon at D. m. When she had ap-
preached within suitable distance the
submarine dived. BY means Of its
periscope it learned that German war
ships made up a squadron Of 10 ships
10 the line and a number OF torpedo
boats.
Approaches Near Warships.
ITO prevent the enemy from seeing
the periscope, the submarines COM
mander decided to steer TO the port
side OF the squadron. between the en-
envy and the sun. knowing that Ger
man torpedo boats carried an eXplo-
sive contrivance for the destruction
OF submarines, her commander de-
cided 10 make a frontal attack. Keep
ing the periscOpe above the water the
submarine approached the leading tor
pedo boats and about 10 o'clock
passed on the port side at distance
of from 40 TO 60 yards, the periscope
being kept six inches above the water.
wishing TO operate outside the line
Of torpedo boats, the submarine drew
TO the left under the PROV of the sec
ond boat and sank TO depth OF %
feet. At this point the crew distinct
lv heard the noise of warships'
of
submarine again raised its periscope,
al this moment sighting the starboaTd
side of the leading warship. whlcn
were cutting across the course OF the
submarine at a distance not more
than 90 yards.
The submarines commander or
dered the boat to dive again after fir
ing a torpedo. The firing Of the tor
pedo was Immediately followed Dv
collision. A terrible crash was heard.
The whole submarine trembled. Elec-
trio bulbs burst. Crockery and all
kinds of articles flew about Some
thing above cracked and gave way.
Keep Submarine at Full Speed.
The submarine listed 5 degrees
TO the starboard and the sailors we're
tossed to and fro They clung 10 any
thing they could find. Nevertheless.
all orders were carried out with speed
and accuracy and the submarine was
kept at full speed. Owing 70 the fact
that il was the hull Of the vessel
which struck the submarine she was
able 70 regain her balance beneath
the battleship.
The submarine went down ~ feet
below the surface, but there was
loud explosion and the commander,
fearing the boat would collapse. owing
TO water pressure. rose to a depth OF
so feet. Then the sound of the vessel
nearby compelled him TO dive again
to a depth OF so feet. Repeated at
tempts TO rise were vain for some
time. Every time the submarine rose
the crew heard the screws Of the bat
tleships and torpedo boats. which
had broken their line and which were
cruising back and forth above the
submarine.
Unable 10 Tell SucceSs.
When water began to enter the
submarine, probably owning 10 the
damage TO the periscope, and the boat
began to lose her bouyancy, her COM
mander ordered that the supplement
tary tank be put down. Toward mid
night. taking advantage Of the dark
ness. the submarine rose carefully TO
the surface and made for shore. 1t
was under water from 1923 p. m. until
1880 d. m. Damage to the periscope
prevented the submarine from ascer-
tanning the success OF its attacks"