Connecticut western news., 1917-08-02
HOW HORSEPOWER
 EvADES J BOATS
Speed and SkiIIful Handling
 Keep Submarines Wary.
REPORTER SEES ATTACK


 the Surface.
 Just how a British destroyer acts when attacked by a submarine was un- expectedly demonstrated to a core spondent while travelling on one of the modern oil driven torpedo boat destroy CTS from England to France.
 The correspondent had been taken aboard the destroyer for the purpose of observing British methods of com batting the submarine menace, when the boat was suddenly attacked by U boat, torpedo missing it by scant six feet, thanks to the vigilance and quick action of the crew.
 The destroyer was one of a certain number which were conveying i'll the usual manner some large transports carrying British troops to France. The group of ships was halfway across the channel when suddenly one of the look outs spied pair of periscopes rise for moment few inches out of the wa LNA o h0ll IllIG AhGJ "GLG SOLlC the next instant, but almost before they had gone came the shout, Sub marine on port bowr' accompanied by a shril call of warning from the de- stroyer's whistle and the fiuttering out of the flag which notified every other ship in the convoy of the enemy's pres ence.
 Guns Brought to Bear.
 On every ship things began to hap pen more quickly than the telling. Guns were swung in the direction from which the periscope had been seen, ready to speak if the periscope appear ed again. Torpedo tubes likewise were swung, into line, and the numerous anti-submarine devices along deck were in the hands of their skilled ex- pert crews.
 But even while this was being done came the torpedo, plainly visible from the deck, its gleaming brass body glis- tening in the bright sunlight, its pro pellers pushing it at express train speed straight toward the destroyer. Something was wrong with the mech Ah1SI4SOL LiiS pdEllGd1dE LOIpedOs 1OK Al should have travelled twelve or fifteen feet below the surface. Instead, it came bounding along in plain sight, now and then leaping out of the water, like flat stone made to skip over the surface.
 Even thus it might have found its target but for the presence of mind of the sixty-year-old coXswain. He had been first to sight the periscopes and had rushed immediately to an emer- gency lever, whereby he instantly stopped the port engine, thus swing ing the ship with lurch to the Left. The torpedo whizZed through the wa ter six feet behind the stern of the destroyer, it's gradually lessening speed as it sank into the swirl of the en- rincs indicating that its possibilities - is hief were nearly done.
 Except for the coxswain's action in tE'.&ting the ship from it's course, the missile would apparently have made square hit in the stern magazine.
 Meanwhile the wireless was at work notifying the hundreds of patrols in all directions that the enemy was near. We sighted a submarine on the port bow, just off blank buoy, 2:03 p. m. Torpedo passed just behind our stern, missing us. We are proceeding with our convoy" said the captains mes sage.
 Many Vessels Quickly Tn Pursuit.
 It was caught simultaneously, ashore and af1oat, by hundred vfgilant wire less operators. The destroyer's cap- tain, according to his orders, must not leave his convoy to seek out and attack the U boat. Others would attend to that. Already they were gathering for the chase-trawlers, chasers, drifters. destroyers. Even a dirigible airship far off on the horizon had caught the wire less call and with the quick turn of a seagull was sweeping down to the pur- suit.
 The transports and destroyers, al though fairly confident that the U boat would scarcely dare show herself again. even for a pot shot, were nevertheless taking every precautiOn. Every ship was at full speed, oil burning destroy CTS constantly protecting their charges. The whole attack occupied bare sec Onds. Convoy and charges were out of range in a few minutes at the most Nowhere had there been the slightest panic or furry, but movements of men and ships made with almost automatic precision and speed. The efficiency of the British naval man is the efficiency of clockwork. Every cog knows its v1Io Tbnro s- ,,,nd1Isy,n 1oC ing. no interference but confident rap- i'd efficiency which somehow demands the use of the adjective deadly"
 Twenty minutes later the transports were safe in t',ci" port of destination. and the dcstro. convoy was off again. thirty niles ar '';*y,-. down the coast to its next arpcit a&H:.
 -r.-. l-r-r.i.,r,a.s- nf ss..nlrfrnr