Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1917-07-04

France of every fighting man ard
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.
1.-The transports bearing our troops
were twice attacked by German sub
marines on the way across. On both
occasions the U-boats were beaten
off with every appearance of loss
One certainly was sunk and there is
reason to believe that the accurate
fire of our gunners 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 OFT
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 posi-
BILE protection.
1.-The first attack took place at 1890
on the night of June %. What gives
it peculiar and disturbing significance
is that our ships were set upon at
point well this side of the rendezvous,
and in that part of the Atlantic pre-
sumably free from submarines.
1.-The attack was made in force. al
thought the night made impossible any
exact count of the U-boats gathered for
what they deemed a slaughter.
THE high seas convoy, circling with
their searchlights. answered with heavy
gunfire, and its accuracy stands proved
by the fact that the torpedo discharge
became icreasingly scattered and mac
curate 1t is not known how many tor
pedoes were launched. but five were
counted as they sped by bow and stern.
"a second attack was launched a few
days later against another contingent
The point of assault was beyond the
rendezvous and our destroyers were
sailing as screen between the trans
| ports and all harm. The results of the
battle were in favor of American gun
merry.
Not alone did the destroyers hold
the U-bOatS at a safe distance, but
their speed also resulted in the sinking
of one of the submarines at least. Gren-
AIDES were used in firing a depth
charge explosive timed to go off at
a certain distance under water. In one
instance, oil and wreckage covered the
surface of the sea after a shot from
| destroyer at a periscope and the re-
| ports make claim of a sinking.
Protected by our high seas convoy.
| by our destroyers. and by French war
vessels, the contingent proceeded and
| joined the others in French port.
1.-THE whole nation will rejoice that so
| great peril is passed for the vanguard
of the men who will fight our battles
| in France No more thrilling Fourth of
July celebration could have been ar
ranged than this glad news that lifts
the shadow of dread from the heart of
| America
Secretary Baker wrote the following
! teller to Secretary Daniels conveying
/ the army's thanks to the navy:
Word has just come to the war de-
| partment that the last ships conveying
! General Pershing's expeditionary force
| to France arrived safe today. AS you
know the navy assumed the RESPONSE
| bility for the safety of these ships on
the sea and through the danger zone,
! The ships themselves and their con-
voys were in the hands of the navy.
and now that they have arrived. and
carried, without the loss of a man, our
soldiers who are the first to represent
| America in the battle for democracy,
beg leave to tender to you, to the ad-
miral and to the navy the hearty
thanks of the war department and of
the army. This splendid achievement is
an suspicious beginning and it has been
characterized throughout by the cordial
and effective cooperation by the two
military services