Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-05-12
AMERICAN SHIP
SINKS U-BOAT
Was Preparing to Launch Tor
pedO When Struck.
SHELL SMASHES PERISCOPE
Navy Clnners on the Mongolia Score
Clean Hit at 1000 Yards While Going
at Top Speed.

Navy clnners on the Mongolia Score
Clean Hit at 1000 Yards While Going
at Top Speed.
The American merchant steamship
Mongolia has sunk German subma.
r1ne.
In the first shot fred for the United
States in the world war, navy gunnerB
scored clean hit ut distance Of
1000 yards.
The vessel was going at full speed
when the shot was fired. 1t was on
Thursday. April 10.
News Of the attack was given out
by Captain Rice, of the Mongolia. He
arrived at British port several days
ago. The submarine, he said, was pre-
pairing to attack. Before it could
launch Its torpedo the navy gunners
mad trained their piece on her.
The engagement took place the last
day Of the voyage, Captain Rice said.
The Mongolia was in British waters.
The captain said there was absolutely
no doubt the U-boat was hit. The shell
disappeared entirely. According to tho
captain, shell ricochets when it's
strikes the surface Of water. 1t can
be seen again unless 1t hits its mark.
After the shot the officers from the
bridge observed through their glasses
the spot where the submarine had
been SEEM, There was nothing In view
except oil which had risen to the sur
face.
The submarine was dead ahead
when the perscope was sighted, late
In the afternoon. The captain gave
the order fer full speed ahead, iutend.
ing to ram the U-boat.
The periscope disappeared. A few
minutes later 1t came to the surface,
this time OH the ships broadside. Tho
guuners fired, as tho shell hit tho
periscope. 1t threw up a mountain OF
water.
Captain Rice outlined the incident
with modesty. He could not quito con.
ceal tho pride he felt in the achieve
ment Of his ship. He paid high tr,b
ute to the gunners. He commented
especially upon the manner in which
they were handled by the officer who
directed the firing Of the telling shot.
For five days and nights" said
Captain Rice, IT had not had my
clothes off. We kept big force OF
lookouts on duty all the time. It was
b.2O O'clock in the afternoon that we
sighted the submarine The oflcer
commanding tho gunners was with me
on the bridge. We had been there
most OF the time throughout the yoy
age. &
"There was a haze over the sea. We
had Just taken a sounding for we were
getting near shallow water. We were
looking at the lead when the first
mate cried: "There's submarine of
the portbow.'
1.-THE submarine was close to us,
too close for her purposes. She was
submerging again to vancouver in a
better position for torpedoing us.
1--WE saw the periscope go down and
the swirl OF the water. Quickly or
dered q man ut the wheel to put Il
to starbcard. We swung the nose OF
the ship toward the spot where the
submarine had been seen.
1--WE were going at full speed. Two
minutes after we first sighted tho
U-boat. 1t emerged again 1000 yards
off. It's intention probably had. been
to catch lis broadside on. When ii
appeared, we had the stern gun train.
ed full on 1t.
"Thc lieutenant gave the command,
the big gun doomed. We saw the peri.
scope shattered. The shell and the
submarine disappeared. .-.
II can't speak too highly Of the cool
manner in which the lieutenant handl.
cd his crew of gunners. It was fine
exhibition Of the efficiency OF Ameri
can naval men.
"The lieutenant knew before the
shell struck the submarine that its
aim was accurate. There Is no guess