Norwich bulletin., 1917-08-02

Washington Aug. "Details of the attacks by German submarines upon the first expedition of American troops sent TO France became known for the first time today when the report of Rear Admiral Gleaves, commanding the naval convoy. was made public by Sec retary Daniels.
 The first attack was made on Ad- miral Gleaves flagship, leading the first group of the eXpeditionarY force, and al least two submarines were in- dicated to be engaged. The admiral stated the belief that the U-boats had Knowledge of the coming of the troop ships, and were on watch for them.
 The second group of transports was also attacked by two submarines. one of which was apparently sent to the bottom by a bomb dropped from an American destroyer. There is disa- greement among the officers of the third group as to whether they were attacked. but much evidence is pre- sented to indicate that they also were assailed.
 Military Information Deeted.
 Secretary Daniels made the report public. with certain military fnforma ton deleted, after he had sent an un- senate naval committee. members of which recently inquired as to the truth of charges in the senate that the official accout of the attack pub
 
 ed. When the committees inquiry first was made, the full report from Ad- miral Gleaves had not been submitted to the department but the secretary the members the brief despatch from which the first announcement was made.
 Tn his letter of transmittal today Mir. Daniels recalled these facts and continued
 ''I am sending yotI the exact text of the report of Rear Admiral Gleaves, giving in detaihhe account of the sub marine attacks for the use of the ma val affairs committee am also sending you a copy for the press ex- act ir the words of the official report the only changes being that the names of the ships are represented by letters and not by tho real names of the ship with the omission also of certain mili- taTy information that cannot he pub lished under naval regulations. How ever, the omissions are noted. Every thing with reference to the attacks of the submarines i: given Tn the exact words Of the official report"
 The report was prepared by Admira Gleaves while at a French port and was submitted to Admiral Mayo. in command of the Atlantic fleet. who forwarded it to the navy department. Its full text as made public follows
 Text of the Report
 About 1915 D. m. June %. the first group of the eXpeditionary fore es. of which the flagship was the lead CT. encountered the epemy's subma rine in Iatitude-N. lonfiture-W.
 At the time it was extremely dark. the sea unusually phOsphores- cent, fresh breeze was blowing from the northeast. which broke the sea in- to whitecaps. The condition was ideal for a submarine attack
 3-CPara graph 3 gives the formation l 1F tIaa with the speed they were making and | the method of proceeding. nothing else. | It is therefore omitted for obvious req SOnS)
 General Alarm Sounded
 4-shortly before the attack the helm of the flagship had damned and | the ship took a rank sheer to star | board: the whistle was blown to indi- l cate this sheer. In a few minutes the | ship was brought back 10 the course | At this time the officer Nf the deck and | others on the bridge saw white | ship. crossing from starboard to port | at right angles to our course. The l ship was Immediately run off ninety 1 degrees to starboard al full speed. I was asleep in the chart house at the l time. I heard the officer of the lock say Report to the admiral a torpedo has just crossed our bow General alarm was sounded. torpedo crews be- I cached the bridge the A and one of the transports astern had Opened fire. the formers shell fitted with tracers. Other vessels of the convoy turned to he right and left, in accordance with instructions. B crossed our bow at | full speed and turned towards the left column in the direction of the firing
 Two Torpedoes Passed Close.
 5-At first Ii was though on board he flagship that the wake was that If a torpedo, hut from subsequent re- ports from other ships. and in the ,pinion of Lieutenant x. who was on he bridge. it was probably the wake If the submarine boat itself Two orpedoeS passed close 10 th, from 'ort to starboard. one about thirty ards ahead of the ship and the other :nder her stern. the ship was urning to the northward. Captain Y eports the incident thus:
 Steamed Zig Tag Course. "Steaming in formation on zig gag purses with base course 7J degrees oSC. standard speed At 10.t5 lighted wake of torpedo directly cross our bow about thirty yards z