The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-04-26

LONDON. April 25.--First blood in the
war between the United States and Ger
many has been drawn ny the Americans.
the victim being one Of the undersea
terrors whose uncontrolled activities are
the cause OF the war.
In full daylight last Thursday--anni-
versarr. by the way, of the battle of
iexing;on--the crack American freighter
Mongolia came upon a submarine. Be-
fore a torpedo was launched in attack
the United States navy gunners under
Lieut. Bruce Ware fired "A inch shell
at the submarines per!scopc. The peri
scope was shattered. and Immediately
after the adjacent waters We're thick
with oil.
There is no doubt in the minds OF
Capt Emery Rice of the Mongolia and
the other officers on board that Ger
many's submarine force is one fewer
than before the encounter, although the
Mongolia kept full speed ahead on her
course.
The Mongolia arrived in British port
last Friday. bu; news OF the nrst en-
counter of the war was not made public
until to-day The story OF the sinking
rulnls every British test the submarine
vas only 1000 yards away, her peri
scope was seen to be shattered, the SIX
!nch she'll instead of skipping along the
waters top as II would in case or miss
disappeared Immediately in geyser IT
stirred up and the foam ana spray oio
!ot settle for some time
These facts, added to the fact that
film of oil covered the water where the
submarine had been when 1t was struck.
prove to the British that the Mongolia
actually did sink the submarine.
The Mongolia. which is owned by the
International Mercantile Marine Com
pany is running between Great Britain
ard New York on the Atlantic Transport
service, She was formerly passenger
vessel, has great speed for freighter'
being capable OF fifteen knots, and has
an exceedingly narrow beam Tor hef
size, a fact which probably saved her.
First Mate spies U-Boat.
II was the afternoon before she was
TO arrive at a British port when the sub
marine was first sighted. Capt. Rice
had not had his clothes of for five days
A vigilant lookout had been maintained
every hour OF the day. Lieut.. Ware. too,
in charge of the gun crew OF nineteen
men assigned to make use OF the two
four inch guns forward and the six inch
gun ait in case Of opportunity, had been
spending twenty-four hours day IN
eager watchfulness. He and Capt. Rice
we're on the bridge at s 80 in the after
noon. which was hazy. when the peri
scope OF the submarine was sighted by
the first mate, who bawled out his find.
The perscope was almost dead ahead
Just a few points to port. Capt. Kic'
IA convinced that the Mongolia offerec
too narrow a target in that location fo'
the submarine: otherwise TORPEDO
would have been sent at him.
Lieut. Ware and his men had the!'
three guns waiting for just such an op
portunity and as quickly as men car
move in willing compliance with SHARPLY
spoken order the three guns on the shiT
we're pointed at the spot where the SUP
marine had been. but even quicker thar
tint the Submarines periscope anl
gently out OF sight.
Capt. Rice was shouting orders as ias,
as was Lieut.. Ware. and soon he had
the Mongolia pounding along at the
Greatest speed he could get out Of her
In the direction OF the submarine. lie
hoped 10 ram her.
Periscope Appears Again.
For two minutes. according to Capt
R'ce's estimate. the submarine remained
submerged. and tn n her periscope was
seen to rise up again. This time she
was 1000 yards to por and the Mongolia
offered he. broadest expanse to the skill
OF the C-boat men.
From the bridge Lieut. Ware shouted
his orders to the men at the incl
Tun AT tho freighter's stern. The gun
oonmed and tho watchers on the Mon
Eoia saw the periscope struck and shat
tered A geyser shot W. the sea becom
tumultuous and gradually foam an oi
covered tho rurfaoe.
II was said here that the shell. ha'
'7rro been a miss. would have ricochette'
along the top Of the water. The Mon
Continued on THIRD Po0e.