The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-06-16
'U-B0AT WINS
BATTLE WITH
US. GUNNERS
German Commander Frees
Crew of Tanker, Pmising
Our Men.
$50 SHOTS EXCHANGED
.MOreni Ablaze When Left to
Fate-FOe's Doctor
Aids Wounded.
0 SHOTS EXCHANGED

WASHINGTON, June 10. American
naval gunners have met their first de-
feat In open fight with German sub
marine. Official dispatches to-day an
nounced the destruction OF the tank
steamship Moreni, abandoned while
ablaze June IL by her crew and armed
guard after a desperate running fight
in the war zone, which cost the lives of
four OF her crew.
Half an hour after the tanker had been
sent to the bottom her forty-three sur
vivors. including all OF the members OF
the armed guard, we-e picked up in life
boats by a passing steamer. The Ger
man commander had set them adrift
after congratulating the American skip
per upon his game fight and having the
wounded men treated by the submarine
surgeon.
The submarine began the action al a
range OF 5000 yards. four nautical miles.
when she hardly was visible to the
steamer without glasses. Presenting
virtually no target herself she sent 200
shells at the big tanker, making many
hits, while the American gunners wasted
$50 shots without harmng the speck
from which the deadly hail came.
U-Boat Well Armed.
Naval officers assume that the sub
marine was armed with the six inch
rifles mounted by most of the newest
undersea boats. No statement was avail
able tonight as to the armament of the
Moreni, nor as to whether she was
one OF the vessels that sailed without
waiting for full equipment. including a
range finder. The failure OF the gun
ners to get the submarine was attributed
generally to the long range and small
target.
The action OF the submarine COM
mander In treating his vanquished op-
ponents with such unexpected courtesy
was the subject Of much comment. Ger
many has proclaimed her intention TO
treat British armed merchant crews as
pirates. In this case even the naval
bluejackets and their officers. properly
prisoners Of war. were set free along
with the merchant crew.
The story Of the action was announced
in this statement by the State Depart
ment:
THE Department Of State is Informed
Of the sinking Of the American tank
steamer Moreni about o'clock on tho
morning of June IL after two houi
running fight with German submarine
THE vessel was first fired upon from
an estimated distance OF 5000 yards a
o'clock. The steamer. which wa.
armed and carried gun crew. returned
the shots and attempted to escape
There was n light breeze and smootl
sea The submarine was hardly visible
After $50 shots. in reply to some 20'
shots fired by the submarine. the crew
abandoned the vessel. which was al
| ablaze, taking to the lifeboats in a ferl
| sea.
AN oiler. Edward Cunningham o
| Brooklyn, was drowned while escapin,
| to a boat. Wireless Operator C. Cur
ran, Jr.. of New York died of heart fail
! ure in the lifeboat, and one seaman. F
Moustner, was injured by gunfre an,
/ died in a lifeboat Fireman A. Geeisei
| also died OF wounds. These last tw
were treated by the surgeon OF the sub
marine.
German shows Courtesy.
THE German submarine captain con
graduated the American captain upol
the splendid fight he had made.
Half an hour after the vessel wa
sunk the crew was picked up by
passing steamship. Fortythree Of tn
original crew Of forty-seven were landed
| Six OF these were slightly hurt an
placed in hospital. All the gunner
were saved"
The Moreni tank steamship OF 4.04
tons gross, owned by the Standard Oi
Company OF New York, sailed fror
New York May for Baton Rouge. La
whence she departed May IL for Leg
horn. Italy. She was last reported pass
ing Gibraltar June -. the day she wa
sunk. The Moreni was commanded b
Capt Thomas Thompson.
The Moreni was built IN Bremen
haven, Germany. in 1913. was 3b4 fee
long. with a beam OF forty feet.