The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-07-09

The destruction of a German sub
marine Is never announced by the Brit
ish admiralty except upon the strong
est possible evidence, which is often
provided by the d~estroyers that are en-
gagged in a long game of hide and seek
with the elusive U-boats under condi-
lions of varying excitement. The
Iandsman may obtain some idea of this
grim game from the details of official
records of a few encounters as to the
result of which there is no room for
doubt.
A convoy Of merchant vessels was
being escorted by British and Ameri-
can destroyers. A submarine attempt
ed TO attack the convoy, but although
it Unanswered from one position to an
other the ~destroyers were too quick
for 1t, and every time it attempted and
came to the surface Its presence was
detected.
Finally an American destroyer sight
ed the periscope In a favorable position
and headed for 1t, with the intention
of ramming. A depth charge vas drop
ped directly over the U-boat, which
was still visible under water from the
American ship. The result was an up
heaval of black-colored water, two
broken pieces of a spar and some small
pieces of wreckage. Nothing more of
the enemy was seen.
Early one winters day a destroyer
sighted an enemy submarine on the
surface and steered for Ii at full speed.
So swiftly was the maneuver carried
out that the German had no time to
submerge. Within thirty seconds of
sighting the destroyer had rammed the
enemy, tearing a great rent In he hull
of the U-boat. AT the same time a
bomb, (which" said the commanding
officer, exploded satisfactorily" was
dropped. After this the destroyer
wheeled back over the spot and drop
ped another bomb. Large quantities
of oil rose to the surface, but no other
sign of the enemy's presence could be
detected, and when the position was
swept later the submarine vas located,
still lying on the spot where she had
sunk.
Submarine Cut in Two.
A merchantmen which had fallen be-
hind the main body Of the convoy to
which she belonged was escorted back
to her position by a destroyer. Just
then another of the merchantmen was
~torpedoed. Immediately the destroyer
swung around and headed full tilt for
the enemy's position. AS she passed
owe the spot a sever shock was felt
throughout the destroyer, and just af-
terward the Germans periscope was
sighted by the d~estroyer's sister ship.
which fastened to drop a bomb on the
U-boat. A heavy explosion resulted,
I'M the submarine came up right
astern of her pursuers. Helm was put
hard over and fire opened by both
British ships, three hits being regis
tered in quick succession. Escort No.
2 had now come round, and, being near
est the enemy, went straight for him
and succeeded In cutting the subma-
rine clean In half. Both halves APP
peared on the surface for a few sec
onds before plunging finally from view.
A destroyer hunting for submarines
observed two periscopes about eight
feet apart on her %starboard bow. The
destroyer managed to get within 30
yards before the U-boat submerged;
then a depth charge was dropped over
the submarines course. After the ex-
plosion Of the charge a second and
much louder explosion was heard and
felt by everyone on board the destroy
er, and a column of black-colored wa
for uyoo fhrOuyn 10 an hoFwHA % 49,
30 feet. A film Of light oil then spread
over the water, and In the next two
hours had increased to a considerable
extent.
Sighting the wake of a submarine, a
destroyer dropped a depth charge and
oil rose to the surface. Later q peri
scope appeared. Another depth charge
was dropped, and more oil was seen.
When darkness fell a large and con-
spicuous patch Of oil was observed, and
was still very clearly marked next
morning. Another depth charge was
dropped in the middle Of the patch,
whereupon more oil and bubbles rose
and continued rising for the next two
hours. Sweeping operations were then
undertaken, and an obstruction was To-
Gated on the bottom. More oil rose
to the surface.
Rescued From Burning Ship.
A lieutenant In command Of a de-
stroyer discovered that a British oiler
had been torpedoed and set on fire.
She was burning ~furiously and was
nj OF control, although her engines
were still running. A continuous
stream Of oil fed the flames, which
prevented anyone from entering the en-
CINE room. Her peak was not yet alIght,
and crouched up there were thirty
Cinnamon, the remainder of the crew.
To extinguish the fire was beyond
the power OF the destroyer's crew, but
her captain determined to make an at