The Detroit times., 1917-04-26
US. ARMED
SHIP SINKS
SUBMARINE
"MOngolia's" Gunners
Shatter PeriscOpe
At 1000 Yards
VESSEL ATTACKED
OFF ENGLAND
Officers Feel Certain
U-BOat Was Sent
To Bottom

WASHINGTON. April 26.--The ex.
plot OF the American armed ship
Mongolia in sinking a German sub
marine which attempted 10 attack
her near the British coast. April 10.
the anniversary OF the battle OF Lex
iHgteR, divided interest with the RFe-
ceedings OF the Allied war council
here today.
News OF the Mongolia's eDcounter
was nrst received from London.
whore It was made public by the
master, Capt Rice. Inquiry at the
navy department elected the infor-
nation that officers OF tho Mongo-
liza had reported their belief that
they had sunk the U-boat. but that
in the absence OF more specific ip-
formation the department had not
seen a. 20 make II public.
According 70 Capt Rice's story
the Mongolia's gunners struck the
submarines periscope AZ the first
shot, The periscope was seen 20
be shattered, he says, and there Is
every reason 70 believe thar the
submarine was sunk The captains
story as given in London dispatches
follows:
IT vas 8 "a o'clock in, The after.
noon Of the 10Th We sighted the sub
marine. Tho officer commanding
the gunners was with me on the
bridge where. IN fact We had been
the most OF the time turnout the
voyage.
There was haze over the sea
At the time We had just taken
sounding FOR we were getting near
shallow water, and We were looking
at the lead when the Grst mate
cried
There's submarine of the
port bow
THE submarine was close 70 MS.
400 close. IN fact. for her purposes.
and she was submerging again in
order 10 maneuver into better po-
sition for torpcdoinb Us when Ne
sighted her.
"We.s saw The periscope go dow n
and the swirl OF tho water
quickly ordered a man az the wheel
10 put II 10 starboard and We swung
the nose Of the ship toward the
SPOT where the submarine had been
seen
I'VE were going a. full speed
ahead and TWO minutes after We
frst sighted The U.boat IL emerged
again. about 600 yards on les
intention probably had been 70
catch ~ broad- die on. but when 80
appeared R, had the stern gun
trained gul on r.
The lieutenant gave the com.
nand and thc big guns doomed
We saw the periscope shattered
and The shell and the submarine
disappeared
---~." The fact that The she'll did not
ricochet from tho Surface Of the wa.
tor is additional proof that 1t found
- mark.
~ cannot speak too highly of the
cool manner in which the lieutenant
handed his crew OF gunners. r WAS
fine exhibition OF the efficiency OF
American naval men TIL lieuton
an knew before the she'll struck
the submarine that It's aim WAS &C.
curate.
Il assure YOU We didn't stop To
reconnoiter after the incident. but
steamed away AZ full speed, for it
vas not improbable there was an
other submarine about The on"
= got undoubtedly had been lying
oi The. bottom ~ this spot waiting
for the ship and came up when o.
heard our propellers.
That's about an The story. OK
ospting this The gunners had
named the guns ON board the Mon.
Eols and the one which got the sub.
marine was called Theodore Roose-
volt so TEDDY fred the first gun
Of the war after all"
LONDON. April % Whether tho
American armed Tiger Mongolia
sank German submarine April -
rested today upon belief Of her cup
tain and the navy lieutenant in
chsBge Of her gun crow that from
80 point a thousand yards distant.
Trey had Seen pieces Of the II.
boats periscope nv into the air and
afterwards observed ell on the sur
face OF the water
Considerable skepticism was man.
ifested here today az 10 the ability
~ observers 10 detect such a hit"
~ this distance.
The story told by Capt Rice and
confirmed by the nsty lieutenant 20
day, however. aroused enthusiasm
among members of tho American
colony here and the frankly OK.
pressed hope 10 British naval
circles that the shot had found
lodgment as tho two Americans 10.
heved. Naval officers have had vast
admiration for tho excellence OF the
guns with which the American lin.
"rs are armed and they have grea
respect for American marksman
ship They were pulling for some
cnicial confirmation NJ the Mon.
golia's report