The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-28
DEATH TO SUBMARINES.
DESTROYER RETURNS TO BASE
WITH FLAGS OUT.
American DestrOyers Effect One OF
Best Fcats OF Anti-Submarine War;
fare in European Waters.


Base OF the American Flotilla in
British Water. Nov. "a. (By the Asso-
ciated Press) The American de-
stroyers which were responsible for
the latest sinking of a German sub
marine have returned to their base
with flags flying. Their victory over
the u-boat was one of the cleanest,
neatest and quickest pieces of anti
submarine work yet recorded.
The submarine was disabled by a
depth charge, rose to the surface
three minutes after the charge was
fired, hung hesitatingly at the sur
face for moment and then sank to
the final place of lodgment at the
bottom Of the sea.
The pressure of the water at 200
feet or so depth at which the subma-
rine sank soon completed the work
Of destruction on the strained plates
OF the submarine hull.
1t was daylight with good visibility
when the periscope was sighted by
the lookout Of destroyer which,
with sister craft, was engaged in it's
customary duties. The submarine
commander was just preparing to fire
torpedo at either one of the destroy
ers or at a merchantmen near by.
"Periscope two points Off the star
board bow" sang out lookout in
n voice which could be heard from
end to end Of the craft. Instantly an
alarm to general quarters was sound
ed, the helm thrown hard over.
Signal flags were swung out noti-
flying the sister ship OF the exact To-
cation OF the enemy. At the same
time the heliograph began it's stacat-
to flashing Of orders for n combined
attack.
! a scant Is inches of periscope had
shown above the surface of the sea
400 yards distant for few seconds
In less time than it takes to tell it.
the destroyer under the impetus OF
suddenly opened throttles had fairly
leaped into the track where the peris-
cope had disappeared
At the proper moment the com
mander on the bridge released a
depth charge from it's fixed place. The
powerful explosive, 800 pounds In
weight. in its steel case, sank with q
I little splash into the destroyer's wake
and at the regulated depth respond
cd to the bidding Of its valves and
burst into q terrific explosion A vas
extent of water was uphea ved ant
rose in column to great height
That the charge had found it's marl
was shown by mass of oil and bub
bles which marked the spot as the
water found it's level
Meantime second destroyer pass
ed through the boiling oily waters ant
dropped a second depth charge an(
destroyer in circling the spot. Tho
two destroyers did not have long tt
wait. In less than three minutes
there was a rush Of water and the Ii.
boat. whale like. came to the surface
not more than 500 yards from the
first destroyer
The Americans were taking nc
chances on n German trick. The gun
crew stood with their guns, machine
guns and torpedo tubes trained on the
stricken enemy ready to let loose q
shower Of steel in case the subma-
rine showed fight. But the u-boat was
badly stricken, the explosive charge
had done it's work thoroughly.
The three minutes which elapsed
between the time the depth charges
were fired and the time she emerged
as If catapulted. provided for inter-
esting speculation. 1t is probable she
was driven to the bottom by the force
OF the explosion but retained enough
buOyancy to rise to the surface. But
by the time she reached the open air
the strain had done it's work and she
hung on the surface of the water only
for a moment and then began to set
tie again, at first hesitatingly, soon
with evidence of complete collapse.
/
MAY DECLARE WAR.