The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1917-07-06
Trip Made Without
a Solitary Casually
Thrilling Encounters With Ger
man U-Boafs-One German
Submarine Sunk; Others
Believed TO Have Been
Sent to the Bottom.

SeHI 10 me bOI1Om.
Washington, July 3.-Successfully
resisting two attacks by entire fee...
of submarines which had laid in wait
for them. the last of the transports
bearing the Pershing troops to France
safely arrived in a French port this
afternoon.
The perils the American expedition
ary forces passed through on their
voyage across the Atlantic were dis
closed tonight by Secretary of the
Navy Daniels.
In Force
The attacks on the transports were
made in force by the U-boats. Only
the accuracy of the American gun
ners' fire thwarted the designs of the
submersibles. Torpedo after torpedo
was launched at the American YES
sells. The American gunners returned
the fire. One submarine was known
to be sunk, according to the secretary
and it is believed others were sent
to the bottom. Not an American life
was lost. Not an American ship was
disabled. The transports were con-
voyed by American patrol boats
Secretary Daniels disclosed the
perils through which the troops had
passed in the following statement:
at is with the joy of great relief
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
;dapgers that. were encountercl and
: co. tell the complete story OF peril
and courage.
"The transports bearing our troops
were twice attacked by German SUBJ
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 accuracy of our
gunners' fire sent others to the bot
tom.
"For purposes of convenience the
gents, each contingent including troop
ships and naval escort designed to
keep off such German raiders as might
be met.
"An ocean rendezvous had been ar
ranged with the American destroyers
now operating in European waters in
order that the passage of the danger
zone might be attended by every pos
sible protection
1.-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
point well this side of the rendez-
vous and in that part of the Atlantic
presumably free from submarines.
The attack was made in force al
though the night made impossible any
exact count of the U-boats gathered
for what they deemed slaughter.
The high seas convoy, circlng with
their searchlights, answered with
heavy gun fire and it's accuracy stands
proved by the fact that the torpedo
discharge became increasingly scat
tered and inaccurate. 1t is not known
how many torpedoes were launched,
but five were counted as they sped
by bow and stern.
The Second.
"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 screen between
the transports and all harm. The re-
suit of the battle was in favor of
American gunnery.
mot alone did the destroyers hold
the U-boats at a safe distance, but
their speed also resulted in the sink
ing of one submarine at least. Gren-
AIDES were used in firing, depth
charge explosive timed to 90 off at a
certain distance under water. In one
instance oil and wreckage covered the
surface of the sea after a shot from a
destroyer at periscope and the re-
ports make claim of the 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.
The whole nation is to rejoice that
so great a peril has passed for the
vanguard of men who will fight our
battles in France. No more thrilling
Fourth of July celebration could have
been arranged than this glad news
r that lifts the shadow of dread from
the heart Of America"
Immediately upon receipt of the
news Secretary of War Baker wrote
the following letter to Secretary