The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-08-04
ADMIRAL GlElVE's REPORT.
SECRETARY DANIELS GIVES OUT
FULL DETAILS OF ASSAULTS
ON AMERICAN EXPE-
DITION.
Admiral Says He Believes U-BOats
, Had Advance Information Oh Ex-
pcditiOn. 4


attacks by German submarines upon
the first expedition Of American troops
sent to France became known for
the first time today when the report
Of Rear Admiral Gleaves. command
ing the naval convoy, was mdae pub
lie by Secretary Daniels.
The first attack was made on Ad-
miral Gleaves' flagship. leading the
first group Of the expeditionary force
and at least two submarines were in
dicated to be engaged. The admiral
stated the belief that the U-boats had
knowledge Of the coming Of the troop
ships and were on watch for them.
The second group of transports also
was attacked by two submarines. one
|of which apparently was sent to the
bottom by bomb dropped from an
American destroyer. There is dis
agreement among officers Of the third
group as to whether they were at
tackled. but much evidence is present.
ed to Indicate that they also were as
sailed.
h Secretary Daniels made the report
public, with certain military infor-
nation deleted, after he had sent an
uncensored copy of confidence to the
senate naval committee. who recently
questioned the reports.
In his letter Of transmittal today
Mr.. Daniels recalled these facts and
continued
II am sending you the exact text
Of the report of Admiral Gleaves Civ
ing In detail the account of the sub
marine attacks. for the use of the
naval affairs committee. am also
sending you a copy for the press ex-
actly in the words of the report, the
only changes being that the names of
the ships are reported by letter and,
not by the real name of the ship,
with the omission also Of certain mil
itary information that cannot be pub
lished under naval regulations. How
ever. the omissions are noted. Every
thing with reference to the attacks
Of the submarines is given in the ex-
net words Of the official report"
The report was prepared by Admiral
'Gleaves while at French port, and
was submitted to Admiral Mayo, ir
command OF the Atlantic feet, who
forwarded It to the navy department.
Its text as made public follows:
II. About 1915 p. m. June 25 the
first group Of the cxpeditionary force
OF which tho flagship was the leader,
encountered the enmy's submarines
In latitude--N, longitude w.
"2. At the time 1t was extremely
dark. the sea unusually phosphores
cent; fresh breeze was blowing from
the northwest. which broke the sea
into white caps. The condition was
ideal for submarine attack.
"3. Paragraph gives the forma
tion and names Of the vessels, to.
gether with the speed they were
making and method of proceeding.
nothing else. 1t Is therefore omit
ted for obvious reasons.)
-. Shortly before the attack the
helm OF the flagship had jammed, and
the ship took rank sheer to star
board; the whistle was blown to in.
dicate this sheer. In a few minutes
tho ship was brought back to the
course. At this time the officer of
the deck and others on the bridge
saw a white streak about fifty yards
ahead of the ship, crossing from star
board to port at right angles to oui
course. The ship was Immediately run
OH ninety degrees to starboard at
fuli speed. I was asleep in the chart
house at the time. I heard the OF.
iicer-of-the-deck say. Report to the
admiral a torpedo has just crossed
our bow. General alarm was sound
ed, torpedo crews being already a,
their guns. When 1 reached the
bridge the A and one of the tran.-
ports astern had opened fire, the
formers shells fitted with tracers
Other vessels Of the convoy turned TO
the right and left, in accordance with
instructions. Il crossed our bow a,
iuil speed and turned towards the
left column in the direction of thc
firing.
%. At first it was thought on board
the flagship that the wake was that
OF torpedo. but from subsequent
reports from other ships and i'm the
opinion of Lieut.. Y, who was on the
nridge. 1t was probably the wake OF
the submarine hnnt itcclf v,v,, tn,,