New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25
Destroyers Trap Submarine
About to Fire a
Torpedo
Depth Charge Jams
Her Steering Gear
Boats Take Germans OFF
When Craft Comes
to Surface
[By The Associated Pressl

BASE OF THE AMERICAN FLO
TILLA IN BRITISH WATERS, Nov. "a.
The American destroyers which were
responsible for the latest sinking Of a
German submarine have returned to
their base with flags flying. Their vic
tory over the U-boat was one of the
cleanest, neatest and quickest pieces of
anti-submarine work yet recorded.
The submarine was disabled by a
depth charge, rose to the surface three
minutes after the charge was fired,
hung hesitatingly at the surface for a
moment, and then sank TO its final
place of Judgement at the bottom of the
sea.
The pressure of water at the 200
feet or so depth at which she sank
soon completed the work of destruction
on the strained plates of the subma-
rine's hull. For long time bubbles and
ell continued TO rise IN great gulps
from the grave where she lay, and then
the Americans made assurance COM
plete in manner of which IL is un-
necessary to go into details.
It was daylight, with good visibility,
when the periscope was sighted by the
lookout of a destroyer which, with d
sister craft, was engaged in its Gus
tomary duties. The submarine COM
mander was just preparing to fire
torpedo, either at one of the destroy
ers or at merchantmen near by.
'Periscope two points off the star
board bowl" sang out a lookout, in a
voice which could be heard from end
to end of the craft. Instantly an alarm
to general quarters was sounded and
the helm thrown hard over. Signal
flags were swung out, notifying the
sister ship Of the exact location Of the
enemy. At the same time The hello
graph began its staccato flashing of
orders for combined attack.
a scant eighteen inches of periscope
had shown above the surface of the
sea 400 yards distant for a few in
stants and then vanished. In less time
thaE il taxes to tell, the destroyer,
undor the impetus Of suddenly opened
throttles, had fairly leaped into the
track where the periscope had disap-
peareG.
At the proper moment the comman-
der on the bridge released a depth
charge from its fixed place.
The powerful explosive, three hun
dred pounds in weight, in its steel case,
sank with a little splash into the
destroyer's wake. A vast extent Of
water was upheaved, and rose in a col
Smn to a great height. That the charge
had found its mark was shown by a
mass of oil and bubbles which marked
the spot as the water found its level.
Meanwhile a second destroyer passed
dropped a second depth charge, and
then followed the tactics of the first
destroyer in circlng the spot. The
two destroyers did not have long to
wait. In less than three minutes
there was a rush of water and the u
boat, whalelike, came TO the surface
not more than 500 yards away from
the first destroyer.
The Americans were taking no
chances on German trick. The gun
crews stood with their guns, machine
guns and torpedo tubes trained on the
stricken enemy, ready to let loose a
shower of steel in case the submarine
showed fight. But the U-boat was
badly stricken. the explosive charge
had done its work thoroughly.
During that brief period several
American sailors jumped into the sea,
in an effort to get the prize buoyed up
with hawsers. so she could be towed
to port. One line was fastened to the
submarine successfully, but before it
could be reinforced she gave final
lurch and sank Ike plummet, break.
ing the line.