The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1917-10-25
HOW CiSSIN WAS SAVED.
Destroyer Was Searching for the Sub
marine When Hit.

/ er Walter H. Vernon probably saved
the American destroyer Cassin from
| destruction in an encounter with
| German submarine in the war zone
| on October 16, the navy department
was advised today by Admiral Sims
/ in his full report of the fight, meagre
| details of which we're received last
| week.
Before she had an opportunity to
fire shot, the destroyer was hit on
the stern by torpedo which killed
| Gunner's Mate Osmond Kelly Ingram,
of Pratt City, Ala, slightly wounded
five others of the crew and put one
engine out of commission.
The Cassin had been searching half
an hour for submarine, first sighted
five miles away, when Commander
Vernon suddenly saw torpedo 400
wards distant and making for the ship
at great speed. Realizing that his
vessel was in imminent danger of be-
/ ing hit amidships and broken in two.
the commander ordered full speed
ahead and the wheel hard over. The
patrol boat was just clear of the tor
pedo's path when the projectile
! | broached on the surface, turned
sharply and hit its objective.
Recovering quickly from the shock
| of the explosion, the Cassin continu-
ed the search to be rewarded by the
showing of the U-boat's coming tow
er. Four shots were sent at the
| Germans and two came so close that
the submarine quickly went under
again.
The destroyer continued its hunt
until darkness Later, conveyed by
/ other American and British patrol
boats, she made port. In the mean
time officers and men had made tenn
porary repairs.
Admiral Sims reported that the
behavior of the officers and the entire
crew was admirable. He gave special
| credit to Commander Vernon
Laran. Saunders and Perk-
! and commended Lieutenants Mac
inson for their ingenuity in
affecting repairs and for their cool
ness and efficient work. Many of the
ships enlisted personnel also were
cited by the admiral for GOODNESS
and qualities of leadership.
Formal Statement.
The navy department made this
official announcement:
The destroyer recently mentioned
in dispatches, made public as being
injured by torpedo was the U. S. S.
Cassin, commanded by Commander
w. n. Vernon: executive officer,
Lieut.. ]. w. MacLaran; junior off,
GERS. Lieut.. J. A. Saunders, Lieut.. L..
R. Agnell, Lieut.. R. NJ. Parkinson and
Assistant Surgeon D. W Queen.
I while this vessel was on her pa
troll station a submarine was sighted
on the surface at about five miles dis
tant. The Cassin immediately pro-
ceeded at full speed towards the sub
marine with her crew at their bat
tie stations. She searched the area
for thirty minutes, zig-zagging back
and forth. when the commanding offl-
Ger. Commander Vernon, sighted a
torpedo running at high speed near
the surface about 400 Yards away,
headed to strike the Cassin amidshiD.
| "Realizing the situation the COM
| manding officer rang for emergency
full speed ahead on both engines,
put the rudder hard over, and was
Just clear of the torpedo's course
when it broached on the surface,
turned sharply toward the vessel and
struck the stern of the Cassin.
Fortunately only one engine was
disabled. thereby permitting the de-
stroyer to remain under way. circ-
ling in search of the submarine.
After about an hour the subma-
rine exposed its coming tower long
enough for the Cassin to fire four
shots. Two of the shots fell so close
to the submarine that it was forced
to submerge immediately and was
not seen again. The Cassin contlnu-
ed to search until dark, when, having
been joined by other British and
American patrol vessels, she was TAX
) en- safely into port.
Men Behaved Admirably.
Vice Admiral Sims states that the
behavior of the officers and the en-
tire crew was admirable. There was
no excitement on board. the men re-
naming quietly at their battle sta
tons throughout the night, except
when called to other duties. He