The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-08-25
NAvAJ0'S CREW TELLS
Of SINKING U-90AT.
Tanker Was Persistently Hunted, but
Finally Sent Its Enemy
To Bottom.
BIG LINER IN HOT FIGHT
American Craft in Battle With Sub.
marine on Irish Coast, Finally Es.
Gaping Both Shells and Torpedoes.

An Atlantic Port. Aug. 24.--The de-
struction OF large German U-boat
Of the most modern type, about 400
feet in length. was related here today
by members of the crew OF the Stand
ayd Oil tanker Navajo. who arrived at
this port on passenger steamer The
Navajo herself was destroyed by IRE
off the coast of Ireland following the
explosion OF her fuel oil pipes.
The submarine went to the bottom
after a four hour fight and gunners
aboard the tanker had to FIRE twenty
shots before making a clean hit, the
twentieth missile striking beneath the
coming tower and the U-boat went
/ down stern first shortly afterwards.
In the crew Of the Navajo vera
thirty men and thirteen men who
comprised the vessels gun crew. The
arrivals included Captain Macdougal,
the chief boatswains mate who COM
manded the gunners; third mate, Ed
ward Schaffer, and wireless operator,
Clarence Sisson.
Schaffer related that the tanker
first met the U-boa. early in July
when the Navajo was of the Irish
coast A few shots were exchanged
and the submersible then withdrew.
Battle Royal Ensues.
The next day the Navajo's men
heard sounds OF firing and received a
call for help Shortly afterwards the
same submarine appeared on the hori-
zon chasing large sailing ship. This
ship was sunk and the U-boat then
headed for the tanker. A battle royal
ensued but the appearance OF Brit
ish hydroplane forced the U-boat to
submerge-
Later in the afternoon when the fog
lifted and after the hydroplane had
returned to shore the periscope OF the
submarine was sighted astern. A new
battle opened, the submarine regis
tering a hit when shot struck the
Navajo near the stern.
There was continuous firing for an
hour. the submarine firing thirty shots
from six-inch rifles and the tanker
replying with a score. SchafYer de-
clared that it was the tanksr's last
shot that found its mark. being OBJ
served TO hit the submarine squarefy
beneath the periscope. Parts OF the
coming tower few into the air and
small cloud of smoke enyeloped tbs
opponent for while. Then the sub
marine began to sink stern first and
soon had gone to- the bottom
Shortly afterwards British de-
stroyer steamed up in response to the
Navajo's wireless calls and cruised
3poah the sAruc- "A large QuanIfly OF
debris and oil on the water was OBJ
served. This convinced the officers
of the warship that the submarine
had been destroyed
The tanker continued her voyage to
French port and her stern plates
were repaired. 1t was on the return
trip that she caught fire and was de-
stroyed.
American Liner i'm Battle.
The passenger vessel also brought
the FIRST news OF fight between
big American passenger liner and a
U~boat for two days off the Irish
coast 1t was a hard night. but tina
liner succeeded in escaping. although
pieces Of a shell fred by the suhma
rine scattered over her decks The
steamer carried a large list Of pas
sensers. The submarine fred thirty
I'VE shots and discharged two torpe-
does and the liner in turn shot away
fifty shells The last shot from the
C~bost exploded ten yards from the
stern OF the liner.