The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-07-05
us. TRANSPORTS
WERE ATTACKED
Swarm of Submarines Way
laid American Ships
Far Out at Sea
ONE U-BOAT WAS
SUNK BY CONVOYS
Germans Efforts to Sink
Transports on Way to
France Fails

| Washington, July 5.--American de-
stroyers conveying transports with
troops for France fought off two sub.
| marine attacks. The first news of the
| fights was given with the formal an
nouncement of the safe arrival of the
last of the transports with their con-
voys.
| At least one submarine was sunk.
| Both of the attacks were made in force,
showing that the Germans had informa
ton of the coming OF the transports.
The attacks were made well this side
of the point in the Atlantic where it
was arranged that American destroyers
were TO meet the transports to convoy
them through the danger zone. This fact
is taken by naval officials here to be
clear proof that German spies in this
country sent out the news of the de-
parture OF the transports.
This announcement was issued
THE navy department at 5 o'clock
Tuesday afternoon received word of the
safe arrival at a French port OF the last
contingent of Gen. Pershing's expedi-
tionary force. At the time the info ma
made that the transports were twice at
tackled by submarines on the way across.
mo ship was hit, not an American
life was lost and while the navy gunners
report the sinking OF one submarine only,
there is reason to believe that Others
were destroyed in the first night attack"
Secretary Daniels made this state
ment:
1T is with the joy of great relief
that / announce to the people OF the
United States the safe arrival in France
of every fighting man and every fighting
ship.
Now that the last vessel has reached
port, it is safe to disclose the dangers
that were encountered and to tell the
complete story OF peril and courage.
THE transports bearing our troops
were twice attacked by German subma-
rines on the way across. On both occa
sions the L boats were beaten off with
every appearance of loss. One was GER
tainly sunk and there is reason to be-
lieve that the accurate fire OF our gun
ners sent others to the bottom.
For purposes OF convenience the ex-
petition was divided into contingents, |
each contingent including troop ships |
and naval escort designed TO keep of |
such German raiders as might be met
AN ocean rendezvous had also been |
arranged with the American destroyers |
now operating in European waters in
order that the passage OF the danger !
zone might be attended by every possible
protection.
"The first attack took place at 1880 |
on the night of June %. What gives 1T
peculiar and disturbing significance is
that our ships were set upon at point
that part of the Atlantic presumably
free from submarines.
The attack was made in force, al
though the night made impossible any
exact count of the U-boats gathered for
what they deemed slaughte..
"The high seas convoy, circling with
heir searchlights, answered with heavy !,
yunfire, and it's accuracy stands proved
~ the fact that the torpedo discharge
became increasingly scattered and mac
'urate. 1t is not known how many tor
Dedoes were launched but five were
ounted as they sped by bow and stern.
"A second attack was launched a few
lays later against another contingent
he point of assault was beyond the rem
lezvous and our destroyers were sailing
IS screen between the transports and
III harm. The results of the battle were
n favor of American gunnery.
Not alone did the destroyers hold the
J. boats at safe distance, but their
peed also resulted in the sinking of one
ubmarine at least. Grenades were used
n firing an explosive timed TO go off at
certain distance under water In one ,
Instance oil and wreckage covered the
urface of the sea after shot from a