New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-18
u. S. Destroyers
Abroad Big Aid in
Checking U-Boats
Every Day They Become
More Efficient in Hunting
Kaiser's Submarines

BASE OF AMERICAN FLOTlLLA IN
BRITISH WATERS. Sept. 3Orin the
five months Of active service that
they have seen the American de-
strovers have steamed collectively
total distance ID $4,000 miles. What
makes the Gglres all the more impress
sive is the fact that they have been
attained with tho loss Of single life
or very serious mishap to any OF the
units.
Roughly. the destroyers have spent
fve-eighths of their time at sea. and
their average time in port has been
three days after each turn of five or
six outside.
Clear weather and long days have
favored them and aided the men In
learning the technique Of combating
submarines, conveying troop ships and
merchantmen, patrolling the shipping
routes and rcscuing survivors from tor
pcdoed ships.
The Americans, therefore. can claim
no small part of the credit for the
gradual decrease in shipping losses.
First of all. the addition Of their units
10 the Allies forces. patrolling as
they do an area as large az that bound
ed. roughly, by the great V formed by
New York. Detroit and Knoxville. was
certain to make life less comfortable
for the U-boats. Next. the Americans
applied all the tactics of the long ex-
perieuced British, and in some m
stances improved on them.
Gunnery Greatly Improved
All destroyers added to their equip
ment depth charges and other devices.
Then the crews learned more about
the business Of understanding a mer-
chant fleet while they beat off the at
lacking submarine. Their gunnery, too,
has greatly improved.
New ideas also have been worked out
with view 20 rendering the work of
the submarine moro difficult For in
stance. two officers. working on designs
for new destroyers. have introduced
many new ideas gained from observa-
lions made in this anti-submarlne game.
Still others have suggested changes IN
gun firing.
Every destroyer has to its credit at
least one encounter with a submarine,
while some have stalked two or three
underwater craft. At no time, how
ever have the submarines shown fight.
They always avoid a meeting.
The depth charges are feared most
by the U-boat commanders. These
weapons. as announced recently by the
American Navy Department. arc high
explosives. timed to explode by press
ure AZ the desired depth.
Destroy Morale of Germans
The wide cruising radius of the
American boats has helped TO produce
unmistakable signs Of weakening in
the morale Of the C-boat crews. They
have made the U-boats spend more time
under water than formerly. There is
not so much destruction of ships by
gunfirc and bombs.
when not patrolling the shipping
! lanes the dcstroycrs have been con
yoying food and supply ships and
transports An assignment 70 convoy
American troop ships IS welcomed by
the mon.
TIE dcstroycrs also have won laurels
in the task Of roscuIng survivors Of
torpodocd shiur. The Americans began
snatchinc torpcdced crews from watery
graves the day or their arrival. and for
long time not week passed without
several destroycrs accounting for sur
yivors.
This rescue work is more often than
not done iu m.re-iufestcd areas and
places where U-toats are known TO be
lurLir~ and IS always attended by