Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-29
Secretary Daniels Report.

About 4:1o pm, while escorting a
convoy. the Secretary's statement says,
the lookout of the Tanning. Coxswain
David d. Loomis, sighted small peri
scope about a foot above water some
distance off the port bow. The perl
scope was visible for only rev sec
onds. The destroyer Immediately mead
ed for the spot and three minutes after
the periscope had been sighted dropped
"a depth-charge. The Nicholson also
speeded to the position of the sub
marine, which appeared to be headed
toward a merchant vessel in the con-
voy, and dropped another depth charge:
At that moment the coming tower OF
the U-boat came to the surface between
the Nicholson and the convoy The Nichoi-
son fred three shots from her stern gun
The bow of the submarine came up rapid
". She was down by the stern, but right
ed herself and seemed to increase her
speed. AS the Nicholson cleared. the
Tanning headed for the U-boat. firing
from the bow gun. After the third shot
deck and held up their hands, the sub
marine surrendering at rs pm
The Tanning approached the submarine
to pick up the prisoners, both destroyers
keeping their batteries trained on the
boat A line was got to the submarine.
but in a few minutes she sank, the line
was let go and the crew of the D-boat
jumped into the water and swan to the
Tanning.
MANY of the Men Exhausted.
Although the crew all wore life pre-
servers, number of them were ex-
hausted when they reached the side of
the DESTROYER As the submarine sank
five or six men were caught by the
radio aerial and carried below the sur
face before they disentangled them
selves Ten of the men were SO weak
| l. Il Il I.rxsr
arms to haul them aboard. One man
was in such q condition that he could
not even hold the line thrown him
Chief Pharmacists Mate Elzer Harwell
and Coxswain Francis G.. Connor On
N. VI jumped overheard after this
man and secured q line under his arms
When he was hauled aboard every eff
fort was made to resuscitate him. but
he died In a few minutes. The four Of
ffcers of the submarine and the thirty
FIVE members of the crew were all
taken prisoners.
After being taken on board the pris-
oners were given hot coffee and sand
wiches. Though kept under strict
guard, they seemed contented. and
after short time commenced to sing.
To make them comfortable the crew
of the destroyer gave them their warm
coats and heavy clothing.
The German officers said the first
depth charge had wrecked the machin-
TO sink to considerable depth.
Inscription on a Lifebelt.
The submarine bore no number nor
distinguishing marks. She was iden-
titled by lifebelts and by statements of
an officer and men of the crew. One
of the lifebelts had kaiser" marked
on one side and "Gott" on the other.
The flaming proceeded to port and
transferred her prisoners under guard.
As they were leaving in small boats
the Germans gave three cheers. The
commanding officer of the Tanning
read the burial service over the body
of the dead German sailor, and the de-
stroyer proceeded to sea and buried
him with full military honors.
The commander of the Tanning re-
ports that the conduct of all his off,
GERS and crew was excellent He gives
deck. Lieut.. Walter o. Henry, and to
Coxswain Loomis, who sighted the
perjscope, and highly commends Chief
Pharmacists Mate Harweil and Cox
swain Connor. who Jumped oVerboard
TO save the drowning German
Report Compliments U. S. Flotilla.
I'll. british commander n-chief under
u,hon, the destroyers were operating.
in a report to the British admiralty
said. ..The whole affair reflects credit
On the discipline and training of the
the incident showed that the Tanning
..;s man-of-war in the best sense of
the term, well disciplined and organ
ized and ready for immediate action.
Ue concludes that the credit for this
must be given her commander. He
mentions as worthy of particular com
menda ton Lieut.. Henry. deck officer of
the flaming; the coXswaln who
sighted the periscope and the chief
pharmacists mate and the coxswain
who jumped overheard to rescue the
drowning German.
The British admiral also commends
the prompt action of the Nicholson.
which completed the success of its
sister ship.
Telegraphs "High Appreciation"
The British admiralty sent a telegram
to the commandments directing
him to express to the commanding Of
fcer. officers and men of the Tanning
its high appreciation of their success
full action against enemy submarine"
Vice Admiral Sims, commander of the
American forces operating in European
waters, issued an order commencing
the officers and men of the Tanning and
Nicholson. Coxswain Loomis was ad-
yanced to the next higher rating in
recognition Of his vigilance in sight
ing the periscope-