Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1917-05-02
TEDDY ROOSEVELT
FIRES FIRST SHOT
Gun That Sank Submarine
Named After Colonel.
PERFECT HIT At 1000 YARDS
Highest Praise For Naval Gun Grow
on Board Merchantmen Mongolia,
Which Not Only Escaped Torpedo,
but Sent . Message o Death to y
Boat Grow.

i
| Boat Crew.
The shot from Teddy Roosevelt
as the sailors OH board the American
| merchantman Mongolia christened the
six inch gun on the bow, brought more
| Joy to the hearts Of Americans than
| anything else since the entrance Of this
country into the war with Germany
The nation is proud Of the naval gun
ners who manned this gun on the mer-
| chairman. Their aim was perfect.
The U boat was maneuvering to get
into a position to let go a torpedo.
Having submerged, the enemy was
hidden from view for a moment OF
two, but the moment she came to the
surface the command "Firer' was CIV
en-, and the first shot found its mark,
making perfect hit at a range of
1000 yards.
When Colonel Roosevelt was told it
was gun the bluejackets had dubbed
Teddy Roosevelt that sank Ger
man submarine he chuckled.
us that SO? BY Godfrey. that's
finer exclaimed the colonel. "Bully
for them! How did they do It? Tell
ME all about it. By George. that's
greatw
Later, when he had had time to think
it over, the colonel was even more en-
thusiastic and chuckled out another
volly Of "Bullys," by gollys" and
That's great
Il am greatly rejoiced. and l con-
all the crew of the Mongolia" he said.
THANK heaven, some Americans have
at last begun to hit. We have been al
together too long purely at the receiv-
ing end of this war that Germany has
waged on u.s."
He was all smiles over the name of
that gun and clinched his fists and
gave every indication of regretting
that he hadn't been at the breech of
it himself. Captain Rice was desig-
mated "a splendid type" Of the men
who will man the ships of America.
Accounts Fulfill All Tests.
The account Of the skipper and the
gun crew fulfills every British test,
the experts say. The submarine was
only 1000 yards away: her perlscope
was seen to be shattered; the six inch
shell, instead Of skipping along the
surface Of the sea, as it would have
done had 1t missed, disappeared in
stantly; a geyser shot up, and the foam
and spray did not settle for some time.
Later all signs of the U boat had dis
appeared except film Of Oil on the
water where it had been when hit,
The British say there is no doubt the
Mongolia did sink the submarine.
In drawing first blood In the war
with Germany the American naval Off
Ger and crew. On the Mongolia worked
with perfect GOODNESS and precision.
Captain Rice co-operated splendidly
by maneuvering his ship so as to give
them q good shot The shell caught
the submarine as it was about to rise
and dropped squarely on her before
the German had had chance to
launch a torpedo. An upheaval Of
black smoke and yellow gas fumes fol-
lowed a squirt Of water mixed with
fragments Of the periscope. At the
request Of the navy department the
names of the American naval officer
and gunners are withheld.
ut was 5:22 a. m.," said Captain
| Rice, when we sighted the periscope,
about 500 yards away, on the port bow.
There was light haze over the sea,
and we had just taken sounding.
We had big force of lookouts on
duty, but 1t was the first officer who
cried, There's submarine OF the port
bow!
Besides the periscope, there was u
disturbance of the water as though
she were just rising to the surface.
Although she was so close, she was
not In a good position, apparently, for
a shot at us, for she Immediately low
cred her periscope and dived.
II put the helm to starboard and
headed straight for the spot where she
was disappearing, figuring that If we
could not ram her We would charge
over her at full speed and she would
l SOLuc up dSdiu dSlcIu, WucIc ouE suns
could get fair shot at her.
Had the True Range
1.-The naval officer in command Of oul
gun crews, who was on the bridge be-
side me, gave the range to the sight
letters. The moment the periscope
poked up in our wake he gave the or
J der, Commence firing!
AT that short range it was easy
from the bridge to see the shell in
fight as it went singing toward the
enemy. Before it reached him We
could see that 1t was going to be a
perfect hit.
THE next moment pieces Of the peri
scope went flying through the air, fol
lowed Immediately by fountain Of
water, smoke and gas which entirely
hid the spot where the submarine had
been emerging.
when the smoke cleared away VIZ
could plainly see the spreading OF
patch on the surface of the water