Evening journal., 1917-04-26
SUBMARINE FIRE
SENDS j. 5. ship
TO SEA BOTTOM
(Continuod From First Page.

ony mere and the frankly expressed
hope in British naval circles that the
shot had found lodgment as the two
Americans believe.
British naval officers have had vast
admiration for the excellence Of the
guns with which tho American liners
arc armed and they have great re-
spect for American Workmanship.
therefore, they were pulling for some
confirmation of the MongOlia's report.
Pays High Tribute 10 Naval Gunners.
Captain Rice outlined the incident
with modesty, but could not quite con-
ceal the pride he felt in the achieve
ment OF his ship. He paid a high
tribute to the gunners, and especially
to the manner in which they were
handled by the officer who directed
the firing Of the telling shot.
For five days and nights" said Cap
tain Rice. If hadn't had my clothes oil
and we kept big force OF lookouts on
duty all the time. IL was go O'Clock
IN the afternoon OF the 18th that we
sighted the submarine. The officer COM
manding the g1nners was with me on
the bridge. where in fact. we had been
most of the time throughout the yoy-
age.
"There was haze over the sea at the
time. We had Just taken sounding.
for We were getting near shallow water
and wc were looking at the lead when
the first mate cried: There's a subma-
rine of the port bow"
The submarine was close TO ms. too
g. n
she was submcrging again i'm order 10
maneuver IN better position for tor
pedoing us when we sighted her. We
saw the perlscope 90 down and the
swirl OF the water. quickly ordered
a man at the wheel to put il to STAR
board and we swung the nose of the shin
toward the spot whore the submarine
had been seen.
We were going sc full speed ahead
and two minutes after We FIRST sighted
tho C-boat it emerged again about 900
yards off. Its intention probably had
been TO catch MS broadside on. but when
1t appeared We had the stern gun train.
ed full on il.
The lieutenant gave the command
and the big guns doomed. We saw the
periscope shattered and the shell and
the submarine disappeared.
4 can't speak too highly OF the
cool manner in which the lieutenant
handled his crew of gunners II was
a fine exhibition of the efficiency Of
American naval men, Tho lieutenant
knew before the shell struck tho sub
marine that its aim was accurate
Ihere Is no guesswork about it, but
case OF pure mathematics.
Gun Sighted TO the Inch.
Taking the speed at which the
Mongolia was travelling at the time
and the speed which the submarine
undoubtedly would make and comput
ing these figures with the distances
we were from he submarine when
1t was first sighted and when il an
peared the second time. Il can be
shown that he lieutenant had his gun
sighted to the inch And II must
be remembered that the whole affair
took only two minutes.
Il assure you we didn't stoD 70
reconnoter after. the incident. hut
steamed away at full speed. for it was
not improbable that there was another
submarine about The one got I'M
doubtely had been lying on the bot
tom at this spot waiting for the shin
and came up when il heard our pro-
pellers. ] Immediately sent a wire
less message stating that a submarine
had been seen"
Captain Rice recalled that he came
from AllstOn, Mass. and that the en-
counter with the submarine occurred
on the date when the Bay State was
celebrating the anniversary of the
Battle of Lexington.