The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-04-26
AMERICAN SHIP
SINKS U-BOAT
Was Preparing to Launch Tor
podO When Struck.
SHELL SS,ASHES PERISCOPEI
Navy Gunners on the Mongolia Score
Clean Hit at 1900 Yards While Going
at Top Speed.

al Op SFSSN'
London, April 26.-The American
merchant steamship Mongolia has
sunk German submarine.
In the first shot fired for the United
States in the world war, navy sunners
scored a clean hit at a distance of
1000 yards.
The vessel was going at full speed
when the shot was fired. 1t was on
Thursday. April 10.
News of the attack was given out
by Captain Rice. Of the Mongolia. He
arrived at British port several days
ago. The submarine. he said, was pre-
naring to attack. Before it could
launch its torpedo the navy gunners
had trained their piece on her.
The engagement took place the last
day of the voyage, Captain Rice said
The Mongolia was in British waters
The captain said there was absolutely
no doubt the U-boat was hit. The shell
disappeared entirely. According to the
captain. q shell ricCchets when its
strikes the surface of water. 1t can
be seen again unless it hits its ma k.
After the shot. the officers from the
bridge observed through their glasses
the spot where the submarine had
been seen. There was nothing in view
except oil which had risen to the sur
face
The submarine was dead a cad
when the nerisc0pe WAS SIGHTED. Ia e
in the afternoon. The captain gave
the order for full speed ahead, intend.
ing to ram the T-boat.
The ppriscope disapp: lred. A few
minute; later It came TO the surf &c.
this time on the ships broadside The
gunncrs fred. as the she'll hit the
periscope. ii threw up a mountain Of
water
Captain Rice Outlined the incident
with modesty. He could not quite con-
ceal the pride he felt in the achieve
ment of his ship. He paia a high tr.b-
ute to the gunners. He commented
especially upon the manner in which
they were handled by the ofTccr who
directed the fling of the telling shot.
"For five days and nights" said
Captain Rice II had not had my
clothes off. We kept a big force Of
lookouts Oh duty all the time. 1t w's
$50 o'clock in the afternoon that we
sighted the submarine. The officer
commanding the gunnerS was with me
bon the bridge. We had been there
most Of the time throughout the voy-
age
"There was a haze over the sea. We
had just taken sounding for we were
getting near shallow water We were
looking at the lead when the first
mate cried: "There's submarine eff
the portbow.'
'The submarine was close to US,
too close for her purposes. She was
submerging again to maneuver In
better position for torpedoing us.
1--WE saw the reriscoPe go down and
the swirl Of the water. Quickly or
dered 4 man at the wheel to put it
the ship toward the spot whore the
submarine had been seen.
Eve We're going II full speed. Two
minutes after we first sighted the
U-boat, il emerged again 1000 yards
off. It's intention probably had been
to catch us broadside on. When it
appeared. We had the stern gun train
ed full on IT,
THE lieutenant gave the command.
the big gun doomed. We saw the peri.
scope shattered. The shell and the
submarine disappeared.
Il can't speak too highly of the cool
manner in which the lieutonant hand'.
ed his crew of gunners. 1t W"S fine
exhibition of the efficiency Of Am r.
can naval men.
"The lieutenant knew before the
shell struck the submarine that is
aim was accurate. There is no CUES:
work about it. 1t was a case of pure
mathematics.
"That's all the tale except this! Tbs
gunners had named the guns on TIE
Mongolia. The one which got the sub.
marine was called Theodore -Roose
welt. So, Teddy fired the first gun of
The war after ALL"