New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-07

that the underwater craft was de-
stroyed He added, however, that the
department would not make claims
which could not be sustained beyond
doubt.
U-Boats Trick Pursuers
The Allied powers have found by OK
perience that the German submarine
commanders attempt to create the i'm
preston on tho surface that their craft
have been destroyed, and thus termi-
nate the pursuit. There have been
cases where destroyers have dropped
depth bombs and oil has come ur. indi-
eating a hit. The assumption is that
the oil was released 10 divert atten-
ton while the U-boat crept away.
There are other cases where sub
marines have dropped 10 the bottom in
shallow water and rested there for a
day or two. waiting for her micro
phones TO show that no destroyer
lGrked in the vicinity before she
came up.
Admiral Bcnson made n clear that
no government has definite knowledge
or tho rate Of construction. Conclu.
sions are arrived at from various fac
tors and estimates based on these. he
said, but there is nothing to indicate
clearly what Germany is doing to in
crease her undersca feet. Reports to
oil admralties, however, agree that
Germany has larger U-boats than those
now in use, either already afoat or
g., L. q
to the size indicated.
Announcement was made in the fol
lowing statement:
The Secretary Of the Navy author
ICES the publication Of this account
OF an engagement between an Ameri-
can destroyer and an enemy subma-
rlne.
This is one of number Of en-
counters Of a more or less similar
nature, the details Of which have
been made public in this manner as
soon as possible.
"A feature Of interest attaches 70
this engagement. because il was the
occasion for n letter of apprec alton
from the British Admiralty. which ex-
pressed admiration for the efficient
and seamanlike conduct OF the Off
Gers and crew Of the American d.
stroyer).
For military reasons the name 90
the destroyer and the date and the
location of the action are withheld.
The following account Of the en-
gagement was prepared from the
complete report received by the Navy
Department:
The American destroyer first sight
cd the submarine In the early morn
ing Of clear day. The sea was calm.
with hardly ripple Of foam. The
submarine was running submerged,
with only her periScOpc showing. A
large number Of merchant ships were
in sight The U-boat was less than
mile off the port beam of the destroy.
er and following parallel course in
an opposite direction when the peri
scope was discovered. II was throw
ing up n column Of water several feet
in height. so like a nearly spent tor
pedo that the officer of the deck
thought for "A moment that this wss
what it was.
The next instant the destroyer
changed course sharply 70 the left
ard headed for the U-boat at full
speed. At the same time the forward
guns opened fire on the periscope.
The commanding oihcer ordered
course steered that would bring the
destroyer across the wake of the
U-boat little 10 the rear of the peri
scope.
As the destroyer dashed across the
line of bubbles a depth bomb was
dropped and a column Of clear water
shot thirty feet into the air. showing
that the charge had not reached its
mark The destroyer turned TO the
right, swiftly circling, and her star
board guns opened on the periscope
As she came around 70 cross the
U-boat's wake again. Again n column
of clear water shot into the air.
Another quick turn to the right
brought the starboard guns to bear,
but this time the destroyer turned so
sharply that she was able TO come
down for the third attack in the wake
of the submarine. The third depth
charge brought up column Of clear
water. and the destro GER wheeled once
more. this time TO the left. and all
the port guns opened up, but without
visible result.
The last time the destroyer came
down to the attack exactly in the wake