The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-10-29
ALLIES WINNING
OYER U-B0ATS
Naval Vigilance and Depth
Charges Surely Reducing the
Undersea Terrors.

WASHINGTON. Oct. as.-No one in
authority here or in Great Britain
believes for moment that the
seriousness OF the U-boat menace should
be underestimate, but reliable informa-
tion Is at hand to show that more sub
marines are being actually sunk than
British naval authorities thought. In
some cases where British ofYlcers have
recorded U-boats as possibly sunk" In
vestigation has proved that the U-boats
with their crews actually have been
eliminated.
The means whereby these results have
obtained mark q new departure in the
anti-submarine campaign. In . general
way the procedure has peen as follows: {:
After . report Of an attack on q
UJboat OF the coast reaches the British
Admiralty and following Indications that
depth charges have damaged or de-
Stroyed the submarine. British mine
sweepers equipped with special devices
to the scene. They have reported in q
series Of recent cases thai Instructions
were found on the bottom directly under
the place where the depth charge ap-
parently put the submarine out Of COM
mission. This Is accepted as Trustworthy
evidence that the depth charge has done
its work
The British Admiralty's report on this
all important phase OF anti-submarine
work says in part:
"A torpedo gunboat sighted tho peri
scope OF submarine on the starboard
bow about 500 yards away. Tho cap
tain swung his ship around until the
object was on the port bow. travelling
slowly in the opposite direction. When
about 500 yards from the ship the peri
scope disappeared and the gunboat.
whose speed was then seventeen knots.
altered course so that she passed d.
rectly over the submarine.
How U-Boat Was Destroyed.
THE impact OF a collision was felt
forward and when the captain Judged
that the submarine was passing under
the after part Of the ship an explosive
charge was dropped The ship was I'M
mediately turned and a second charge
was dropped when tho first had ex-
ploded. eeaplane which was sent UP
circled around for an hour and reported
large patches OF Oil on the water.
"A group Of mine sweepers sweeping
the bottom reported the obstruction In
this place.
! "A torpedo boat on patrol in tho At
lantic observed steamship torpedoed
by submarine. She proceeded to her
aid and shortly afterward the steamship
| sank. Having picked up the survivors
the torpedo boat circled around search
ing for the submarine. and shortly af-
terward white patch In the water was
sighted right ahead. The torpedo boat
made straight for the spot, actually
grazing over the submarine. An ex.
ploeive charge was dropped as she
passed under the stern and. turning
! around with all speed, a second and
then third charge was also detonateyi
| in the place where oil and air bubbles
,, were coming to the surface and the air
| was heavy with the smell OF gasolenc.
subsequent investigation by sweepers
! confirmed the presence OF heavy oh.
I ject on the bottom.
One Submarine sinks Another,
NO shadow Of doubt Of the fate O,
| German submarine recently torpedoed
! by ono OF our submarines Is fortunately
possible. A certain British submarine
on patrol sighted an enemy submarine
| Both boats were ON the surface and a
heavy sea was running at the time
The British submarine dived and a quar-.
ter Of an hour later succeeded in pick
| ing up the enemy in her perscope
| "She fired at an estimated range Of
500 yards and after a pause Of a min
| ute heard the concussion OF violen,
explosion. She rose to the surface ant
sighted a patch OF oil with survivor,
swimming in IL. who were taken prls
oners. These stated that the torped,
had struck them just before the connini
tower. The submarine rolled over ant
sank. the survivors being blown through
| tho coming toUer"