Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-02
I mee Battles Fought
on Voyage to France
WHhGennanU-Boats

torpedo crews being already at their
guns. When 1 reached the bridge, the
a and one Of the transports astern had
opened fire. the formers shell fitted
with tracers. Other vessels of the con-
voy turned to the right and left, In
accordance with Instructions. crossed
our bow at full speed and turned to-
wards the left column in the direction
OF the figure.
WAKE WAS THAT
OF SUBMARINE ITSELF
5. At first 1t was thought on board
the flagship that the wake was that
of a torpedo, but from subsequent re-
ports from other ships and in the opin-
ion of Lieutenant p, who was on the
bridge. it was probably the wake of
the submarine boat itself Two tor
pedoes passed close to the A from port
to starboard. one about thirty yards
ahead of the ship and the other under
her stern, rs the ship was turning to
the northward Captain Y. reports the
incident thus:
"SteaminG In formation on Zigzag
courses, with course rs degrees p. S. c.
Standard speed. At 1925 sighted wake
of torpedo directly across our bow
about thirty yards ahead OF the ship
Changed course 30 degrees to left and
went to torpedo-defense stations. Fired
two one-poundcr shots and one five
inch shot from port battery in alarm.
In addition to six blasts from siren
Passed through two wakes, one being
that from the U. S. S. c., in turning
to northward. tho other believed to
have been from the passing submarine.
a second torpedo wake was reported
at about 1o:35 from after lookouts
After steaming in various courses at
full speed. resumed course 80 degrees
p. G. S. at 11:1o for rendezvous. At
1900 set course &c degrees p. S. c." !
6. The torpedo fired at the passed
from starboard to port. about forty
yards ahead of the ship. leaving a dis
tinct wake which was visible for about
400 or 500 yards. Colonel D., u. S. A,
was on the starboard wing Of the
bridge OF the D at the time. and states
SEES WHITE STREAK
OFF srAtBOARD BOW
Il first saw white streak in the
water just off the starboard bow which
moved rapidly across the bow very
close aboard. When first saw 1t, 1t
looked like one very wide wake and
similar to the wake of a ship, but
after crossing the bow and when in
line with 1t there appeared two dis
tinct and separate wakes. with strip
of blue water between. In my opinion,
they were tho wakes Of two tor
pedoes."
z. The submarine which was sighted
by the flagship was seen by the B. and
passed under that ship. The B went
to quarters when the alarm was
sounded in the B. Lieutenant w was
his station, and found unmistakable
evidence OF the presence of a sub
marine. He had been there only few
seconds when the radio operator re-
ported: Submarine very close to u.s."
AS the submarine passed the B and
the fagship's bow and disappeared
close aboard on our port how, be-
tween tho columns 1t was followed by
the B, which ran down between the
columns. and when the latter resumed
her station. she reported that there
were strong Indications OF the presence
of two submarines astern, which were
growing fainter. The was then sent
to guard the rear Of the convoy.
SEES CONFIDENTIAL
OFFICIAL BULLETIN
s. When I was In Paris. 1 was shown
by the United States naval attache a
confidential official bulletin OF snotifi-
cation issued by the. general stan,
dated July 6. which contained the fol-
lowing:
"Punta Delgada Azores was bonn
Continued on Ninth Pass9