Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1917-07-11
American Fleet Defeats Subma-
rines in Two Attacks on
Ships.
ONE OR MORE DIVERS SUNK
Secretary Daniels Announces Safe An
rival of Army in France-Not a
Life Lost-NeW Grenade Is
Used Against Enemy.

Washington, July 5.-Amerlcan ue-
stroyers conveying transports with
troops for France, fought Off two SUD-
marine attacks. The first news OF the
fights was given out by the committee
on public information with the formal
announcements of the safe arrival OF.
the last of the transports 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 trans
ports and planned to get them.
Text of Announcement.
This announcement was issued:
1.-The navy department received word
of the safe arrival at a French port
OF the last contingent of General Per-
shing's expeditionary force. At the
time the information was released an
nouncement also was made that the
transports were twice attacked by
submarines on the way across.
mo ship was hit, not an American
life was lost, and while the navy dis
patches report the sinking of one sub
marine only, there is reason to be-
lieve that others were destroyed in
the first night attack"
Story of Courage.
Secretary Daniels made this state
ment:
1T is with the joy of a great re-
lief that l announce to the people OF
the United States the safe arrival in
France of every fighting man and ev-
cry fighting ship.
"Now that the last vessel has
reached port, it is safe to disclose the
dangers that were encountered and to
tel the complete story of peril and
courage.
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 was certainly sunk, and there is
reason to believe that the accurate
fire of our gunners sent others to the
| bottom.
For purposes of convenience the
| expedition was divided into cOntin-
| gents, each contingent including
| troopships and a naval escort de-
signed to keep off such German raid
ers as might be met.
Rendezvous on High Seas.
can ocean rendezvous had also been
arranged with the American destroy
| ers 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 10 80
on the night of June % What gives
| it peculiar and disturbing significance
| is that our ships were set upon at a
point well this side of the rendezvous,
and in that part of the Atlantic pre-
sumably free from submarines.
1.-THE attack was made in force, al
| though the night made impossible any
exact count of the U-boats gathered
for what they deemed a slaughter.
1.-The high seas convoy, circling with
their searchlights, answered with
heavy gunfire, and its accuracy stands
proved by the fact that the torpedo
! discharges became increasingly scat
| tered and inaccurate.
at is not known how many torpe-
does were launched, but five were
counted as they sped by bow and
| stern.
"a second attack was launched a
few days later against another con-
tingent. The point of assault was be-
yond the rendezvous and our destroy
ers were sailing as a screen between
| the transports and all harm. The re-
suits of the battle were in favor of
American gunnery.
Not alone did the sdestroyers hold
the U-boats at a safe distance. but
their speed also resulted in the sink
ing of one submarine at least.
"Grenades were used in firing a
depth charge explosive, timed to go
off at a certain distance under water
Wreckage on Surface.
I'm another instance, oil and wreck
| age covered the surface of the sea
after shot from destroyer at a
periscope, and the reports make claim
of sinking.
Protected by our high seas convoy,
by our destroyers and by French war
vessels, the contingent proceeded and
Joined the others in a French port.
1.-The whole nation will rejoice that
so great a peril is passed for the van
guard 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"