Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-06-16
.U-BOAT wins FIGHT
WITH j. 5. GUNNERS
German Commander Frees
Crew OF Tanker, Praising
Our Men
MORENI ABLAZE
WHEN LEFT TO FATE

WASHINGTON, June l6.-American
naval gunners have met their first de-
feat in open fight with a German sub.
marine. Omcial dispatches yesterday
announced the destruction OF the tank
steamship Moreni. abandoned while
ab'aze June ~ by her crew and arm
ed guard after a desperate running
fight IN the war zone. which cost the
lives OF four OF her crew.
Half an hour after the tanker had
been sent TO the bottom her forty
three survivors. including all OF the
members OF the armed guard, were
picked up In life boats by a passing
steamer The German commander
had set them adrift after congratu'
lating the American skipper upon his
game fight and having the wounded
men treated by the submarine sur
geon.
The submarine began the action at
n range OF 5000 yards. four nautical
miles when she hardly was visible 70
10 the steamer without glasses. Pre-
senting virtually no target herself she
sent 200 shells at the big tanker. max
ing many hits while the American
gunners wasted 100 shots without
harming the speck from which the
deadly hail came
Naval officers assume that the sub
marine Was armed with the six incl
rifles mounted by most Of the newest
undersea boats. No statement wal
available tonight as 10 the armament o
/ the Morcni nor as TO whether sh'
rHannnNu NhnN uUNInI
without waiting for full equipment
4 including a range finder. The failure
OF the gunners 20 get the submarine
was attributed 10 the long range an'
small target
The action OF the submarine com
mander IN treating his vanQuished or
ponents with such unexpected couri
esy was the subject OF much comment
Germany has proclaimed her inter
ton TO treat British armed merchan
crews as pirates. In this case eve
the naval blueiackets and their OF
GERS. properly prisoners Of war. wer
set free along with the merchant crew
The story OF the action was al
nounced in This statement by IN
State Department:
THE Department OF State Ia II
formed OF the sinking Of the Amer
can tank steamer MOreni about
O'Clock on the morning of June - a
ter a two hour running fight with
German submarine.
THE vessel was first fired upon fro
an estimated distance of 5000 yar'
at 4 O'Clock. The steamer, which vi
armed and carried gun crew, !
) turned the shots and attempted
p escape There was a light bree
s and smooth sea. The submarine "
p hardly visible After 100 shots,
s reply 70 some 200 shots fred by
s submarine. the crew abandoned
3 vessel. which was ell ablaze, taking
n the lifeboats in fiery sea.
% An oiler. Edward Cunningham
e the Brooklyn. was drowned VIII
escaping to a boat. Wireless Ope
u tor G. Curran. Jr., OF New York. dl
l. Of heart failure in the llfeboat. a
s one seaman. r. Moustner. was injur
g by gunfire and died in a lifebcat. III
II man A. Geeisen also died Of wounl
4 These last two we're treated by {
!. surgeon OF the submarine.
e THE German submarine captain co
q graduated the American captain up
3 the splendid fight he had made.
d Half an hour after the vessel W
sunk the crew was picked up by
u passing steamship Forty.three
+ the original crew OF fortyseven We
r landed. Six OF these we're Sigh
J hurt and placed In a hospital. All {
a gunners we're saved"
d The Moreni. a tank steamship
4.O45 tons gross, owned by the Sta