Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-10-06
AMERICAN SHIP
BATTLES AND .
SINKS U-b0AT
Destroyer Successful in En-
counter With Enemy
Submarine.
USES DEPTH BOMB
WITH SUCCESS
American Commander and Crew Out
mansuvers German Craft and Con-
tinuss Battle Until Submarine is
Destroyed - Fourth Effort With
Bombs Sends Diver to Destruction,
With Entire crew-British Commend


fight between an American DESTROYER
in Europeon waters and German sub
marine. in which the submesible was
destroyed by depth bombs, were an
nounced by the navy department today.
A feature Of interest attaches to thAs
engagement because it was the oc-
casion for a letter from the British
admiralty expressing appreciation OF
the seamanlike conduct Of the officers
and crew Of the American destroyer.
The statement follows: :.
THE secretary OF the navy author
ICES the publication Of this account Of
an engagement between an American
destroyer and an enemy submarine
This IL one Of a number Of en-
counters OF more or less. similar ma
ture the details Of which have been
made public in this manner as soon as
possible.
For military reasons the name Of the
destroyer, the date and the location Of
the action are withheld.
Sights Periscope Mile Distant.
THE following is prepared from the
complete report received by the depart
ment: ~
-The American destroyer frst Sigh
ed the submarine in the early morning.
The sea was calm. with hardly ripple
S-of foam The submarine was SUBJ
merged, with only her periscope show
Ing. "A large number Of merchant ships
were In sight. The U-boat was less
than mile of the port beam Of the
destroyer and following a parallel
course In the opposite direction. 1t was
throwing up column of water several
feet in height, so like an early spent
torpedo that the officers Of the deck
thought for moment that this was
what 1t was
Heads For U-Boat.
.The next instant the destroyer
changed course sharply to the left and
headed for he U-boat at full speed.
At the same time the forward guns
opened fire on the periscope. The
commanding officer ordered course
steered that would bring the destroyer
across the wake Of U-boat a little to
the rear Of the periscope.
"As the destroyer dashed across the
line Of bubbles depth charge was
dropped and q column Of clear water
shot thirty feet into the air. The de-
stroyer turned to the right. swiftly
circling, and her starboard guns opened
-.;:::z =: =. ..e...eona as she came around to
cross the boats wake again. Again
I. a column OF clear water showed that
the depth charge had not reached dts
mark.
Fourth Charge Effective.
"Another quick turn to the right
brought the starboard guns to bear,
hit this time the destroyer turned so
sharply that she was able to come down
for the third attack in the wake Of the
submarine. The third depth charge
brought column Of clear water and
the DESTROYER wheeled once more and
I all the port guns opened up, but with
out visible result.
.aThe last time the destroyer came
down to the attack exactly in the wake
OF the U-boat and ceased firing. AS
she veered the end Of the line of
bubbles the fourth charge was let go
and there followed widespread boil-
ing OF the surface Of the sea, large
bubbles and at last a heavy Aim OF oil.
.'The destroyer spent some time look
ing for further traces Of the U-boat
but none was found. She then pro-
ceeded on her course The engagement
lasted twenty two minutes"
Germans Abandon Defense.
British Front in France and Belgium.
Nrf, AZ some places in the new
lire established by the British at
Is. l,! .he Ger,nans were re-
ported today, to be in such exposed po-
sitions thet they had pulled back their
defensas short distance British pa.