Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-10-11
Fourth bomb
DESTROYS Sub
Thrilling Battle in Which u. S.
Destroyer Sinks u-Boat Is
Described by Navy
Report.

Washington, Oct. 8-I)etails of d fight
betWeen an American destroyer IN Eu
ropean waters and q German supma-
vine, in which the submersible was de-
stroyed by depth bombs, were an
aouncaG by the navy department today,
Announcement was made in the fol-
lowing statement:
The secretary of the navy author
ICES the publication of this account of
TN engagement between an American
destroyer and an enemy submarine:
'This is one of q number of encoun-
ters OF q more or less similar nature,
the details of which have been made
public in this manner as soon as pos
sible. "a feature of interest attaches
30 this engagement because it was the
occasion for a letter of appreciation
from the British admiralty. which eX-
pressed admiration for the efficient and
seafnanlike conduct of the officers and
rev Of the American destroyer).
"Ihe following account of the en-
gagenseEt was prepared from the COM
plete report received by the navy de-
partruent:
Though, 1t Destroyer.
The American destroyer first sighted
the IN the early morning OF
q clear Gay. The sea was entirely calm
with hardly a ripple Of foam. The sub
marine was running submerged, with
only her periscope showing. A large
number of merchant ships were in
sisht. The U-boat was less thar a
mile OH the port beam of the destroyer
and following a parallel course in an
opposite direction when the periscope
was discovered. 1t was throwing up a
column several feet in height, so like
a nearly spent torpedo that the officer
OF the deck thought for a home tina
this Vas what it was.
THE next instant the DESTROYER
changed course sharply to the left and
headed for the U-boat at full speed. At
the same time the forward gun opened
ne on the p~erlscope. The commanding
ottlcer ordered a course steered that
would bring the destroyer across the
wake of the U-boat a little to the rear
of the p~eriscope.
Bombs Fail to Destroy It.
AS the destroyer dashed across the
line Of bubbles a depth charge was
dropped and a column of clear water
shot 30 feet into the air. The destroyer
urn to the right, swiftly circ!ing, and
her starboard guns opened on the
reriscope as h came around to cross
the U-boat's wake again. Again a
column of clear water showed tina the
depth charge had not reached its mark
Another quick turn to the right
brought the starboard guns to bear, but
inns liElG tiS destroyer luIIleu Isl
sharply that she was able to come dowr
for the third attack in the wake of the
submarine. The third depth charge
brought up a column Of clear water anC
the destroyer wheeled once more, this
time to the left, and all the port guns
opened up, but without visible result.
Fourth Charge Sinks 1t.
TIKI last time the destroyer cam
down to the attack exactly in the wake
of the U-boat and ceased firing. AS slt
neared the end of the line of bubbles thu
fourth charge was let go and there fol
lowed a widespread boiling Of the sur
faceref the sea, large bubbles and at las
a heavy film Of oil.
The destroyer spent some time look
ing for further traces of the U-boat
but none was found. She then proceed
ed on her course. The engagement last
ed 22 minutes"