New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-30
n...royers Tanning and
Nicholson Credited With
Destroying Raider
Drowning Foe Saved
"a. Belts of Submarine Bore
The Words "Gott" and
Kaiser"

.,,,-oyers Of o German submarine and
7 a. .sn.pre Of its crew, made public to-
s,7 BY the Navy Department, show that
:. ses,royers Tanning and Nicholson
-,re the warships engaged. Tho incl
d.. was reported November a. but
s.v facts were given at the time.
Tho submarine was sunk, the Navy
c,,,rtrent's story Of the affair indi-
..,.s IS 5, was preparing TO attack &
~,,eban. ship fOtilla conveyed by the
destroyer.
The Navy Departments full story oil
es incident follows:
az about 4:rO p. m, while escor'ine
convoy. Coxswain David d. Loomis'
lookort Of the Tanning, sighted small
.,,;..ore some distance of the port
~. extending about foot out OF
r,,er and visible for only few sec
,8s The Tanning immediately head
a for the spot, and about three min
40. after the periseOpe had been sight
Cd dropped a depth charge.
Second Depth Charge Dropped
aTbe Nicholson also speeded TO the
.,,itiop Of the submarine. which ap-
,.ared 10 be heading toward o mer-
han. vessel in the convoy, and dropped
.ro.ber depth charge. At that moment
Ae submarines coming tower ap-
,ssrad on the surface between the
Nicholson and the convoy and the Mich
olson fred three shots from her stern
'IaTbs bow Of the submarine came up
-.,;5lv She was down by the stern
mi riehted herself and seemed to IN
s,esse her speed. The Nicholson
5sared. the flaming headed for the
T.boat. firing from the bow gun. After
10 third shot the crew OF the suoma-
r.ra all came on deck and held up
der hands. the submarine surrender
ing at 1920 p. n. A.. -
THE flaming approached the sup
marine 20 pick up the prisoners both
S,strovers keeping their batteries
trained on the boat. ,
"a line was got 70 the submarine
m, in few minutes she SANK, the Inc
-ss LOT 70 and the crew of the U-ooat
;urned into the water and swan TO the
flaming. IT,,
Although the crew all wore life pre-
so,-.o-s " the statement continues,
,ur,ber Of them were exhausted wheh
.bev reached the side OF the destroyer
AZ the submarine sank FIVE or SIX mei.
we're caught By the radio aerial ana
carried below the surface before they
diseDtaugled themselves. len OF lhe
mon were so weak that lines had to De
paesed under their arms 70 haul them
aboard. I'LL.
"One man was in such q condition
that he could not even hold the line
thrown him. Chief Pharmacists Mate
Elzor Harwer and CoXwain Francis u.
Gamer iur ed overheard after TINS
man and scared q line under his arms
When he was hauled aboard every ei-
fort was made TO resuScitate MN, Dut
he died in d few minutes.
"The four officers Of the submarine
and the thirty-five members OF the
crew were all taken prisoner.
After being taken on board the pris-
oners we're given hot coffee and sand
witches. Though kept under strict
guard. they seemed contented ana
after a short time commenced to sing.
To make them comfortable the crew
Of the destroyer gave them their warm
coats and heavy clothing.
"The German officers said the first
depth charge had wrecked the machin-
, ery of the submarine and caused her
70 sink 60 a considerable depth.
"The submarine bore no number
nor distinguishing mark. She was,
however. identified by life belts and by
statements OF an officer and men Of
The crew One Of the life belts, the
reports said. had Kaiser marked on
one side and Colt on the otner
"The Tanning proceeded to port and
transferred her prisoners under guard.
As they were leaving in small boats
the Germans gave three cheers. Tho
commanding officer of the Tanning
read the burial service over the body
" the dead German sailor and the
destroyer proceeded 20 sea and buried
Rlm with full military honors.
in his report the commander of the
canning praises the conduct OF his
taicers and crew and gives particular
credit 90 Lieutenant Walter o. Henry,
eficer Of the deck, and 10 Coxwain
Looms, who sighted the perlscope. He
also commerds Pharmacists Mate
hsrwell and CoXwain Common, who
Jumped overheard 10 save the drown
ing Germans.
British Praise L. 5. Action
"The British commander in chief,
ander whom the destroyers were oper-
Sting, said this IN his report 20 the
British Admiralty:
"'The whole affair reflects credit on
me discipline and training Of the
United States fotlla,' and added that
| the incident showed that the Tanning
u man-of-war in the best sense OF
me term, well disciplined and organized
and ready for immediate action. He
also praises her commander, Lieutenant
A. ). Carpenter, and commends Lieu
'enant Henry. CoXswain Loomis, Phar-
mscists Mate llarwell and CoXswain
Nonnor. The British admiral also COM
mended The prompt action o. the Mich,
9ison' which, he says, completed the
&pccess or lis sister ship. The Nichoi-
son was commanded BY Lieutenant
q. Il. Fort. The British Admiralty
vent telegram 20 the commander in
cniei, directing him 20 express 70 the
COMMANDING officer, officers and men Of
.ne Tanning It's high appreciation Of
rnslr successful action against enemy
Fice-Admiral Sims, commanding the
american forces operating in European
gaters, commended the officers and
,aen o. The flaming and Nicholson.
,No&swain LOOMS was advanced 20 the
s1e1t higher rating in recognition Of his
vigilance In sighting the periscope"
me Navy Department gave out the
.ooresses Of the officers Of the de-
:suoyer Tanning as follows:
-'seasrnsnt CARPENDER. commanding.