Evening journal., 1917-12-29
heroic ACTION
marks CAPTURE
Of GERMAN CREW
Americans Rescue and Care
for Teuton Survivors of
Sunken U-Boat
Cheer YANKEES WIEN
DE. .TROYER TOUCHES PORT
BY The United Press

BY The United Press.
WASHINGTON, Dec 29.-Ileroic ac-
tion Of American sailors marked the
sinking Of a German U-bost last month
and capture Of four officers with 30
men.
Official account Of the capture, au-
thorized by the Navy Department today,
gave credit 10 the destfoyers L. :. ;.
flaming and the L. 5. :. Nicholson for
the capture
Action Of American sailors was IN
marked contrast TO the barbarities
practiced by German U-boat crews on
victims left helpless after sinkings on
the high seas. TWO American sailors
Chief Pharmacists Mate Elzer Harwell
and CoXswaln Francis u. Connor jump
ed overload 10 rescue a drowning Ieu-
ton after the U-boat damaged by
depth bomb was sinking.
After the German prisoners had been
taken aboard the Tanning they were
given clothing and food such was
the treatment accorded the prisoners
that q Teuion cheer was given the
American crew when port was reached
and the U-boat pirates landed.
Special recommendation by the Fan
ming commander, Lieut.. A. s. Carpen-
ter, was accorded the oincer Of the
deck, Lieut.. Walter o. Henry and
/ Coxswain a. D Loomis, for sighting
/ the German submarine periscope.
The account Of the capture differs
little from reports already made except
that there was no mention previously
that the Teutons themselves had open
ed the boat valves after surrendering.
The indications were that the depth
charge had blasted the shell like sides
Of the U-bOat as she sank.
About 4.i0 p. m.,,' said tha Official
account. while escorting a convoy. the
lookout Of the Fanning sighted a peri
scope some distance of port bow. The
periscope was visible fSr only few sec
onds. The destroyer Immediately head
ed for the spot and three minutes az
ter the periscope had been sighted 3
depth charge was dropped.
'The Nicholson was speeded to the
position Of the submarine, which APP
peared TO be headed toward a merchant
ship in the convoy. and dropped an
other depth charge. At that the con-
ming tower Of the U-boat came 10 the
surface between the Nicholson and the
convoy. The Nicholson fired three
shots from her stern gun. The bow
Of the submarine ceme up rapidly she
was down by the stern but righied her
self anu seemed 10 increase her speed.
AS the Nicholson cleared, the Tanning
headed for the U-boat, firing from the
bow gun. Afier the third shot the crew
Of the submarine al came on deck and
held up their hands, the submarine sur
rendering at 2S p. m.
THE Tanning approached the suhma-
rine 10 pick up the prisoners both de-
stroyers keeping their batteries trained
on the boat. 4 line was got 20 the sub
marine but I'm a few moments she sank
the line was let go and the crew Of the
U-boat Jumped into the water and swan
10 the Tanning.
"Althouga the crew wore life preserN.
! ers a number Of them were exhausted
when they reached the side of the de-
81 stroyer. As the submarine sank five OF
six men were caught by the radio aerial
: and carried below the surface before
, they disentangled themselves. Ten Of the
b. men were so weak that lines had to be
? passed under their arms to haul them
r aboard. One man was in such condition
that he could not even hold the line
thrown him
] Chief Pharmacists Mate Elzer liar'
4 well and CoXswain Francis G. COnnoI
! Jumped overheard after this man and Sc
b. cured a line under his arms. When ht
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