Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-04
WAIT IN ATLANTIC
FOR SLAUGHTER
OF PERSH|NG' MEN
Twice They Give Battle. and
Twice They Are Driven
Off Defeated.
AMERICAN GUNNERY #
WINS TWO BATTLES
Last of Troopships Arrive Safely
Through Terrors of Sub sW
marine Ambush. @
NOT ONE VESSEL DAMAGED
Destroyers, Acting as Convoy, Do
Deadly Work Among Enemy's -,
Undersea Raiders.
NOT ONE VESSEL DAMAGED.
Destroyers, Acting as Convoy, Do
Deadly Work Among Enemy's N,
Undersea Raiders.
tBy Associated Pres,.1

l.
at French port OF the last ships 81
the first American overseas expedition
was announced tonight by Secretary
Daniels In statement revealing that
twice on the way across the Atlantic
German submarines attacked In force
and were fought off by conveying war
ships. sf
The Americans did not lose a man,
ship or an animal. At least one OF
the undersea enemies was DESTROYED. .sSs
The work OF spies through whom the
Germans knew secrets of the expedi-
tion is disclosed by the news that the
first attack was made far at sea be-
fore the transports and their convoys
reached the point at which rem
devious had been arranged with the
American destroyer lotilla operating in 4
European waters. The subma rine COM
manders apparently knew where and,
when to expect the Americans boundf
for the fighting lines In France and
were assembled in force to meet them.
1t was yesterday, just a week after
the first troops landed that the last
vessels put into the French port They
were slower craft, carrying supplies
and horses.
The good news came to the Navy
Department late this afternoon from
Rear Admiral Gleaves. commanding the
convoy squadron. and was made public
at once as an appropriate announce
ment on the eve of the Fourth of July.
NAVY DEPARTMENT
MAKES ANNOUNCEMENT
Secretary Danielss statement. which
tells all Of the story deemed wise to
publish. follows:
The Navy Department at o'clock
this afternoon received word of the
safe arrival at a French port Of the
last contingent of General PershinE,s
the information was released that
transports were twice attacked by sub
marines on the way across
NO ship was hit. not an American
life was lost. and while the navy gun
ners report the sinking of one sub
marine only. there is reason to believe
that others were destroyed in the hrst
night attacks"
Secretary Daniels made this state
ment:
ut is with the JOY OF great relief
that announce to the people of the
United States the safe arrival in
France Of every fighting man and
every fighting ship. y
Now that the last vessel has reached
port 1t is safe to disclose the dangers
that were encountered, and to tell the
complete story of peril and courage
The transports bearing our troops 1
were twice attacked by German sub
marines on the way across. On both s
occasions the U-boats were beaten off
with every appearance OF loss. One
was certainly sunk. and there is rea-
son to believe that the accurate are /
or our gunners sent others to the
bottom ,ss8
For purposes of convenience, the
expedition was divided into conttn-
gents each contingent including troop )
ships and naval escort designed TO
keep off such German raiders as might
bo met. vts
An ocean rendezvous had also been
arranged with the American destroyers
now operating III European waters, in
order that the passage of the danger
zone might be attended by every pos.
sihle precaution. $50
ATTACK MADE IN FORC-,
FOR GREAT SLAUGHTER
THE first attack took place at 1880
on the night of June %. What gives
II peculiar and disturbing significance
is that our ships were set upon alta
point well this side of the rendezvous,
and in that part OF the Atlantic pre-
sumably free from submarines. The
attack was made in force. although the &
night made impossible any exact count
OF the U-boats gathered for what they
deemed a slaughter. ~
THE high seas convoy, circling with
their searchlights. answered with heavy
gunfire. and it's accuracy stands proved
by the fact that the torpedo discharges
became increasingly scattered and In
accurate. 1t is not known how many
torpedoes were launched. but five were i
counted as they sped by bow and stern. =
"A second attack was launched a few
days later against another contingent.
The point of assault was beyond the
rendezvous. and our destroyers wAfa
sailing as a screen between the trana-% Il
ports and all harm. The results of thSS
battle were In favor of American glns
merry. ~
Not alone did the destroyors hatA 4