The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-12-29
GUNS PUT END
TO SUBMARINE
IN II MINUTES
Two Destroyers Get U-Boat
as it Was on Point of At
tacking Flotillo.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 29.-Full de-
tails of the destruction by American
destroyers of German submarine and
the capture of its crew, made public
today by the navy department, show
that the destroyers Tanning and Mich
olson were the warships engaged The
incident was reported November "a,
but few facts were given at the time.
The submarine was sunk. the navy
departments story Of the affair indi-
Gates. as it was preparing to attack
merchant ship flotilla conveyed by the
destroyers.
Account Of Equipment.
The navy departments story of the
incident follows:
"At about 4:1O p. m. while escorting
a convoy, coxswain David D. Loomis,
lockout of the Tanning, sighted a
small periscope some distance off the
port bow. extending about foot out
of water and visible for only few sec
onds. The Tanning Immediately
headed for the spot and about three
minutes after the periscope had been
sighted dropped depth charge The
Nicholson also speeded to the posi-
ton of the submarine, which appeared
to be heading toward a merchant YES
sci in the convoy and dropped another
depth charge"
Between Nicholson and Convoy
At that moment the submarines CON
ming tower appeared on the surface
between the Nicholson and the con-
voy and the Nicholson fired three
shots from her stern gun. The bow of
the submarine came up rapidly She
was down by the stern, but righted
herself and seemed to increase her
speed. The Nicholson cleared and the
Tanning headed for the U-boat, firing
from the bow gun. After the third shot
the crew of the submarine all came on
deck and help up their hands. the sub
marine surrendering at 4:2S p. M.
The Tanning approached the sub
marine to pick up the prisoners both
destroyers keeping their batteries
trained on the boat.
Crew Take to Water.
"a line was got to the submarine.
but in a few minutes she sank, the
line was let go and the crew of the
U-boat jumped into the water and
swan to the Tanning
Although the crew wore life pre-.
servers the statement continues, "a
number of them were exhausted when
they reached the side of the destroy
er. As the submarine. sank. sfises,,er
six men were caught by the radio
aerial and carried below the surface
before they disentangled themselves
| Ten OF the men were SO weak that
lines had to be passed under their
arms to haul them aboard.
Risk Lives to Save German.
One man was in such condition
that he could not even hold the line
thrown him. Chief pharmacists mate
Eizer Harwell and coxswain Francis
G. Connor, N. N. ", jumped overheard
after this man had secured line un-
der his arms. When he was hauled
aboard eyerey effort was made to re-
suscitate him, but he died in a few
minutes, The four officers Of the
submarine and the thirty-fiye men,
bers Of the crew were all taken pris.
onere.
after being taken on board the
prisoners were given hot coffee and
sandwiches, Though kept under strict
guard they seemed contented, and aft
er short time commenced to sing
To make them comfortable the crew
of the destroyer gave them their
warm coats and heavy clothing.
Depth Charge Effective.
"The German officers said the first
depth charge had wrecked the ma
chinery Of the submarine and caused
her to sink to a considerable depth.
The submarine bore no number
nor distinguishing mark She was,
however, identified by life belts and
by statements of an officer and men
of the crew. One of the life belts. |
the reports said, had Kaiser marked
on one side and 'Gott' on the other.
"The Tanning proceeded to port and
transferred her prisoners, under |
guard. AS they were leaving in small |
boats the German gave three cheers. |
The commanding officer of the Fam. |
ing read the burial service over the |
body of the dead German sailor and |
the destroyer proceeded to sea and |!
buried him with full militaray honors. |
In his report the commander of the |
Tanning praises the conduct of his Of |,
ficers and crew, and gives particular |
credit to Lieutenant Walter 0. Hen
ry, officer of the deck, and to Cox !
swain Loomis, who sight the peri !
scope. He also commends Pharmac- |
lists Mate Harwell and Coxswain Con-
nor. who jumped overheard to save |
the drowning German.
British Commanders Praise
THE British commander.in-chief,
ating, said this in his report to the |