Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-07-06
DEATH IS PROMISED
ALL SPIES CAPTURED
IN GOVERNMENT NET

submarines attacked the troop ships en-
route to France. Up to that time Ger
many-at least in official statements for
publication-had refused to recognize
America as an enemy.
Panied. surprise" was feigned that
the United States should take belliger-
emit action against Germany. The Berlin
government did not respond to this gov
ernment's war declaration by declaring
war on the United States. AS a matter
of fact there is no formal declaration
of war between the two governments.
The United States merely declared a
state of war to exist. and this Germany
had ignored up to the time of the attack
on the Pershing troop ships.
New Significance was seen today in
the comment of the German press on
the arrival of the American troops in
France. as indicating the disappoint-
ment that must have been felt in Berlin
at the failure of the submarines to stop
the American troop ships. Count Won
Reventlaw. one of Americas bitterest
critics, characterized the report of
American troops landing as "bluff,' and
stated flatly that he did not believe
soldiers had arrived, and that such men
as had reached France comprised only
medical units. AS the departure OF the
American troops avs apparently known
in Germany, 1t is reasonable to suppose
InaC f60V0nIlOW MIG" VA NAAS
lions made for submarines to head them
off.
SUBMARINE ATTACK.
Secretary of the Navy Daniels In
announcing the battle between the
u s. warships and German subma-
rines said, lone German submarine was
certainly sunk and there is reason 10
believe that the American ships sent
others to the bottom"
General Pershing's troops were safe
Nv landed in France, Mr.. Daniels an
nounced.
The first submarine attack on the
TRANSPORTS occurred at 1880 p. m. on
June %.
Secretary of War Baker has made
public q letter to Secretary Daniels con-
graduating the navy on it's part in con-
yoying General Pershing's transports
safely to France
This official announcement is the
first authentic account of the trip
across the U-boat infested seas OF Gen.
eral Pershing's contingents. 1t Is also
first intimation that the American
troops were actually attacked by Ger
man submarines.
The navy departments announcement
said:
"'rhe war department has received
word of the safe arrival at a French
mort of the last contingent OF General
Pershing's expeditionary forces.
The transports were twice attacked
by submarines on the way across.
mo U. s. ship was hit, not an Amer
lean life was lost, and while the navy
gunners report the sinking of one SUD-
marine only, there is reason to believe
that others were destroyed in the Ilrst
night attack
"On both occasions the U-boat attack
was beaten off with every appearance
of loss. There is reson to believe the
accurate fire of our gunners sent 9TH
ers to the bottom.
For purposes of convenience the ex-
nedition was devided into contingents.
each contingent including troop ships
and a naval escort assigned to keep on
such German raiders as might be met.
IAN ocean rendezvous had also been
arranged with the American destroyers
now operating in European waters In
order that the passge of the danger
zone might be attended by every posi-
BILE protection.
"The first attack took place at 1890
on the night of June %. What gives it
peculiar and disturbing significance Is
that our ships were set upon at a point
we'll this side of the rendezvous, and
that part of the Atlantic presumably
free from submarines.
THE attack was made in force, al
though the night made impossible any
exact count of the U-boats gathered for
what they deemed a slaughter.
The high seas convoy, circling with
their searchlights, answered with heavy
gunfire and it's accuracy stands proved
by the fact that torpedo discharge be-
came increasingly scattered and mac
curate.
TT is not known how many torpe-
does were launched but five was count
ed as they sped by bow and stern"
"a second attack was launched a
few days later against another contin-
gent. The point of assault was be-
yond the rendezvous and our Destroy
ers were sailing as a screen between
the transports and ell harm.
THE results of the battle were In
favor of American gunnery.
Not alone did the destroyers hold
the U-boats at a safe distance but
their speed also resulted in the sinking
of one submarine at least.
"Grenades were used in firing, depth
charge explosive timed to go or at
certain distance under water. In one
instance oil and wreckage covered the
surface of the sea after a shot from
a destroyer at a periscope, and the re-
ports make claim of sinking.
protected by our high seas convoy,
by our destroyers and by French war
vessels the contingent proceeded and
Joined the others in a French port
Mr.. Daniels added:
at is with the joy of a great relief
that 1 announce to the people of the
United States the safe arrival In
France of every fighting man and eV-
cry fighting ship.
Now that the last vessel has reach
ed port it is safe to disclose the dan
gers that were Encountered and to fell
the complete story of peril and cour-
age.
1.-THE whole country will rejoice that
so great a peril is passed for the van
guard of the men who will fight our
battles in France.
mo more thrilling Fourth of July
celebration could have been arranged
than this glad news that lifts the
shadow of dread from the heart OF
America"