The midland journal., 1917-07-13
U-BOATS. ATTACK
TROOP TRANSPORTS
Germans Knew in Advance OF
Details of Expedition.
BEATEN OFF BY DEsTROYERs
Others Believed To Have Been Sent
To Bottom BY American Gunners.
Every Fighting Man Brought
Into Port.

washington. - Safe arrlVal at
French port of the last ships of the
first American overseas expedition was
announced by Secretary Daniels in a
statement revealing that twice on the
marines attacked in force and were
fought off by conveying warships.
The Americans did not lose man,
ship or an animal At least one OF
the undersea enemies was destroyed.
The work of spies through whom
the Germans knew secrets of the ex-
pedition is disclosd by the news that
the first attack was made far at sea
before the transports and their con-
voys reached the point at which
rendezvous had been arranged with the
American destroyer >fotilla operating
in European waters.
Submarines There In Force.
The submarine commanders ap-
parently knew when and where to ex-
pect the American troops bound for
the fighting lines in France, and were
assembled in force to meet them.
1t was just week after the first
troops landed that the last vessels put
into the French port. They were
slower crafts carrying supplies and
horses.
Secretary Daniels statement, which
tells all of the story deemed wise to
publish, follows:
at is with the joy of great relief
that l announce to the people of the
United States the safe arrival i'll
France of every fighting man and
every fighting ship.
"Now that the last vessel has
reached port, it is safe to disclose the
dangers that were encountered, and to
tell the complete story of peril and
courage.
Gunners' Fire Accurate.
"The transports bearing our troops
were twice attacked by German sub
marines on the way across. On both
occasions the U-boats were beaten off
with every appearance of loss. One
was certainly sunk, and there is rea-
son to believe that the accurate fire
of our gunners sent others to the bot
tom.
For purposes of convenience, the
expedition was divided into con-
tingents, each contingent including
troop ships and naval escort de-
signed to keep off such German raid
ers as might be met
IAN ocean rendezvous had also been
arranged with the American destroy
ers now operating in European waters
in order that the passage of the dan
possible protection.
Attacked At Night.
"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 well this side of the rendezvous
and in that part of the Atlantic pre-
sumably 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 slaughter.
Five Torpedoes Seen.
"The high seas convoy, circling with
their searchlights, answered with
heavy gunfire, and its accuracy stands
proved by the fact that the torpedo
discharge became increasingly scatter
ed and inaccurate. 1t is not known
how many torpedoes were launched,
but five were counted as they sped by
bow and stern.
"a second attack was launched a
few days later against another con-
tingent. The point of assault was be-
yond the rendezvous and our destroy
ers were sailing as a screel: between
the transports and all harm. The re-
suits of the battle were in favor of
American gunnery.