Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-06-29
AMERICAN GUNNERS
DESTROY SUBMARINE.
Yankees Win Battle With U-Boat
Near Liverpool.
TWO OTHER SHIPS ATTACKED
Wireless Operator of U. S. Freighter
Gives Vivid Story of Fight With
German Diver-SheII Wrecks
Periscope.

An American Atlantic Port, June %.
The commander of an American
armed steamer said that he believed
he sunk a U-boat on June 4, when two
days out from Liverpool, en- route to
an Atlantic port. Beyond this state
ment the captain would not vouchsafe
any information.
A story written by the wireless op-
orator on the steamer says:
''We discharged our cargo at Liver
pool and left for our homeward voyage
on June 1. We were running at night
without lights. The guns were cleared
for action, but we hoped we would be
as lucky going back as we were going
over.
Ships Nearby Fight Submarine.
eve saw one submarine June 4. One
British ship-her wireless call was T.
L. O., her name was not listed in the
international radio stations of the
world-sent signal Of distress, which
we picked up. She reported she was
attacked by submarine. The British
ship was exchanging shots with the
submarine for about half hour. When
they reported by wireless the subma-
rine had submerged
81 heard S. o. S. from another Brit
lsh vessel-the Manchester Port. She
reported she was being attacked by
submarine. She was fighting at close
range. After 20 minutes Of hard fight
ing the submarine again submerged
and the Manchester Port at 6 :18 p. m.
wirelessed she was not damaged.
"We could plainly see the shells from
those British vessels as they dropped,
but could not see the submarines with
out glasses.
Torpedo Suddenly Sighted.
"After the second unsuccessful at
tempt to sink the two ships we con-
sidered we were apparently out of
danger. About 6 80 p. m. one of the
gunners sighted a torpedo headed
straight for US. He shouted to the
bridge: Here she comes, torpedo port
side.'
"The chief officer, who was on the
bridge, shouted to the quartermaster
Hard starboard.' We swung Off The
torpedo had a red head about sixteen
inches in diameter. She was about ten
feet long. The torpedo struck US on
the portside, glancing blow amidship
right near the engine room. Our ship
was empty and we all thought she had
exploded from the terrific noise she
made when she hit.
simultaneously the ships whistle
blew short and successive blasts, which
was signal to abandon ship and mar
the lifeboats. 1 then sent out a sigma
of distress, which was picked up by
the Manchester Port.
Torpedo Failed to Explode.
''The captain, who had remained OF
the ship, found the torpedo had fafleC
to explode. All hands were then or
dered back on ship. We were lyini
perfectly still for at least an hour.
'When the commander of the subma
rine saw our crew coming back iron
lifeboats and climbing upon deck b
Immediately gave up his chase for tw
other British merchant ships and start
: ed for us again. The submarine wa
about 1000 yards off our starboar
beam.
Suddenly came the command, Ma
the guns
"The gun crews scrambled to tn
deck. They ran fore and aft to thei
respective positions. The chief gur
ner gave them their ranges from tn
bridge.
Three Shots Hit Submarine.
"When about 600 yards off our stal
board quarter a shell from our forwar
gun hit her and she submerged Agai
: she appeared and our after gun hit he
: and blew away her periscope. Anothe
shot from our forward gun fell rigf
. on top of her. There was shower {
: black specks which rose high in til
air. followed by a great commotiol
bubbles of water and light blue smoB
arising from the stern of the U-boat