Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-07-04
American Destroyers Fight
Them Off, Sinking One, and
Preventing Their Doing
Damage to Transports.
GERMANS INFORMED OF
SAILING OF EXPEDITION
Report of Submarine Activity
Not Disclosed Until Wash
ington Hears That Last
Contingent Has Landed.

isy sosn,so JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASE, w,ssi
Washington, July 3.-American de-
| stroyers conveying transports with
troops for France fought off two sub
marine attacks. The first news of
the fights was given out late today
by the committee on public informa
safe arrival of the last of the trans
| ports with their conveys.
| At least one submarine was sunk
| Both of the attacks were made in
force, showing that the Germans had
, information of the coming of the
transports and planned to get them.
This announcement was issued:
THE navy department at o'clock
this afternoon received word of the
safe arrival at French port of the
| last contingent of General Pershing's s
expeditionary force. At the time the
! information was released announce
ment also was made that the trans
ports were twice attacked by subma-
rines on the way across.
mo ship was hit, not an American
! life was lost, and while the navy dis
| patches report the sinking of only
| one submarine, there is reason to be-
lieve that others were destroyed in
the first night attack"
Secretary Daniels made this state
ment
at is with the joy of great relief
that 1 announce to the people of the
United States the safe arrival in
France of every fighting man and
every fighting slip.
Now that the last vessel has
reached port, it is safe to disclose the
to tell the complete story of peril and
courage.
1.-THE transports bearing our troops
were twice attacked by German sub
marines on the way across. On both
occasions the U-boats were beaten off
with every appearance of loss. One
certainly was sunk and there is rea-
son to believe that the accurate fire
of our gunners sent others to the bot
tom.
Attacked Out of Usual Zone.
For purposes Of convenience, the
expedition was divided into contin-
gents, each contingent including troop
ships and a naval escort designed to
keep off such German raiders as
might be met
IAN ocean rendezvous had also
been arranged with the American de-
stroyers now operating in European
waters in order that the passage of
the danger zone might be attended by
every possible protection.
THE first attack took place at 1890
on the night of June 20. What gives
it peculiar and disturbin sig
nificance is that our ships were set
upon at a point we'll this side of the
rendezvous and in that part of the
Atlantic presumably free from sub
marines. The attack was made in
force, although the night made i'm
U-boats gathered for what they
deemed slaughter.
Second Attack Made.
1.-THE high seas convoy, circling
with their searchlights, answered
with heavy gunfire, and its accuracy
stands proved by the fact that the
torpedo discharge became increasing
ly scattered and inaccurate. 1t is not
known how many torpedoes were
launched, but five were counted as
they sped by bow and stern.
"a second attack was launched
few days later against another con-
tingent. The point of assault was
beyond the rendezvous and our de-
stroyers were sailing as a screen be-
tween the transports and all harm.
The results of the battle were in
favor of American gunnery.
mot alone did the destroyers hold
the U-boats at safe distance, but
their speed also resulted in the sink
ing of one submarine at least. Gren-
ades were used in firing, depth
charge explosive timed to go off at
a certain distance under water. In
one instance. oil and wreckage COW
cred the surface of the sea after
shot from a, destroyer at a periscope,
and the reports make claim Of sink
ing.
Last Ships Arrive.
protected by our high seas con-
voy, by our destroyers, and by French
war vessels, the contingent proceeded
and Joined the others in a French
port.
"The whole nation will rejoice that
so great a peril is passed for the
vanguard of the men who will fight
our battles in France. No more
thrilling Fourth Of July celebration
could have been arranged than this
glad news that lifts the shadow Of
dread from the heart Of America"
Secretary Baker wrote the follow
ing letter to Secretary Daniels con-