The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-05-17
Destroyer Fleet Has Been OPP
Grating Against U-Boat Men
ace Since May 4
NEWS MADE PUBLIC BY
BRITISH ADMIRALTY
British and American Naval
Chiefs Exchange Felicitaionts
at Association Of Old Glory
and Union Jack

tween an American destroyer and
German submarine has been
fought in European waters, tho
admiralty announced tonight.
The result of the conflict was not
made public. The battle marked
the entrance OF American battle-
ships in the European war.
Washington, May i6.-Threc
thousand miles from home, out in
the gray waters of the Atlantic
and the North sea, a fleet OF
American destroyers tonight is
hunting down German subnaa-
rine3.
The Stars and Stripes have
been carried across the ocean.
The American navy has taken its
place beside the fleets OF Its Eu-
ropean allies.
Official admission that Amcri-
can warships have joined the
ranks of the allied navies in the
search for submarines in these
very waters which the submarines
have made their hunting ground
was made by Secretary OF the
Savv Daniels tonfy ht-
The destroyer fiotlla Is under conh
mand of Rear Admiral William 8
Sims. one Of the most expert officers
of the navy. Its personnel was se-
lected with the utmost care, When
it left American shores late in April
IT, carried With Il the bfst~ the 1lay-y
had.
1t had been known in Washington
for several weeks that American d.
stroyers were cooperating with the
British and french navies in Euro
pean waters. For military reasons
the newspapers agreed to withhold
the news under the voluntary CEN
sorship.
Britons Publish News.
1t was not until the British adj
miralty, al parently for the effect tho
announcement would have on the
morale of the British armies and peo-
pie. made public the fact that Old
Glory was flying beside the Tri-color
and Union Jack out in the waters
which the Germans have made a
graveyard Of the merchant navies that
the government here allowed the
news to be made public.
The number Of ships in the foreign
squadron is withheld by naval au-
thoritcs because of Its military char
s-,ter. Secretary Daniels explained
that the government decided to send
a naval force to Europe on the
strength of reports from Rear Ad-
miral Sims, who went to London
in extensive conferences with the
British admiralty there ana the
French admiralt~ in Paris. 1t took
almost three weeks to make the
necessary preparations. as the United
States wanted its first expedition to
leave nothing undone in the way OF
completeness and readiness for Ac-
ton The ships were manned with the
finest destroyer force in the service.
Quilted to the last detail and then
sent on their way. The officers In
command OF the ships when war was
declared still hold their berths, but
the crews were picked with the ut
most care.
Sims in Command.
Admiral Sims is in full command.
His power Is more absolute even shan
was Dewey's at Manila after the cable
was cut. No departmental order has
been sent either for his direction or
guidance Few reports have been
receivd from him beyond those which
showed that the American officers
and blueiackets were living up to the
traditions of the service.
The cooperative plans are all be-
ing worked out in London at trt-
partite conferences OF American
French and British officers, and 40.
n.iral Sims is guiding his actions by
the decisions of these conferences, not
on orders from home.
Naval officials tonight refused to
comment on the connection between
the arrival of an American destroyer
force in European waters and the Coz
incident reduction in merchant tcn-
mage destroyed. Dispatches from
London today announced a decided
drop in the number of submarine VIC
tins.
The sending Of fleet abroad Is this
second move in the program OF naval
cooperation worked out by the
United States and England ana
France.
The first move is now practically
completed. 1t is the taking over Of
the entire work of patrolling the wa
ters off the American coast from
Canada to the Horn.
Washington. May 17.--Navy do
partment officials. when Informed e
midnight that the British admiralty
had announced that there had been =
battle between an American destroyer
and German submarine, said thpy
had received no such informAt1CnY
They expressed keen interest In the
report of the engagement, and wero
anxious To knnw the sansrAl loon11nQ
asss