South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-03-03
MERCHANTMEN
TILE VICTOR
Navy Department Reveals
PluCky Resistance of Gun
Crew and Officers.
International News Service:

international News Service:
WASHINGTON. March Hit
i've times by exploding shells from
German submarine. the American
merchantmen Nyanza not only re-
used 10 surrender. but put up such
night against her opponent that
she finally drove the under-seas
pirate or
The battle between the liner ana
he submarine lasted two and one
half hours. according 20 an official
statement made public by the navy
department here today One man
was wounded. The fight took place
On Jan 15 last, but the official re-
port was made public only today.
Departments Statement.
The navy department statement
as made public through the Creel
committee was as follows.
Although Inst FIVE times and bad
IS damaged, the American me--
chantman Nyanza forced "a German
submarine TO qiut after thrilling
engagement on Jan. 13. which lasted
two and one half hours.
The details of the encounter are
now made public for the first time
and Chief Guuner's Mate BENJAMIN
a. Groves has been commended by
he department for zeal and eff
cheney
Three members of the gun crew
ON the Nyanza had their clothes
torn more or less bv shrapnei. one
engineer was wounded and later
was taken TO hospital on the ar
rival Of the vessel in port"
Here's Groves story.
The statement then gives official
reports OF Groves as follows:
AT $3.50 a. m, Sunday, Jan. j..
a periscope was sighted off the port
bow about 1000 yards distant At
the same time a torpedo was seen
approaching the Nyanza. The yes
seFs stern was swung clear to avoid
the torpedo and the Nyanza opened
fire with the after gun.
The submarine fell rapidly
astern. then came to the surface and
gave chase AT about 1000 yagds the
T-boat opened fire with two guns
using shrapnel and zigzagging En-
order TO Use both guns at the SAME
time. After "A number OF shots hal
fallen short. the I-boat got the
range and the Nyanza was hit five
times. one shot passed through the
after gun platform. through the
wooden shelter house and the iron
deck breaking a deck beam ami
passing out through the side of the
ship. one shot exploded in the arm
ed guards mess room. breaking IL
Two shells exploded in the steam
locomotive on deck. doing some
damage. a shot hit the stern of the
ship but did not go through
Gets Range but Quits.
AT about 1925 the submarine
had our range again. At the same
time I had his range and fired four
shells quickly. causing him 10 come
broadside and keel over ard then
suddenly disappear just as ne had
our range good.
This leads me to think that he
did not quit from choice. but from
necessity.
THE engagement lasted two
hours and 30 minutes. The Nyanza
fred % rounds and the submarine
approximately zoe. The gun crew
throughout the engagement behaved
coolly. doing their duty ard gaining
experience which 7 think will be
manifested i'm the next attack Three
men Of the gun crew had thei-
clothes torn more or less by shrap-
mel one engineer cadet was wound
ed and taken TO the hospital ON ar
RIVAL i'm port"
Groves next OF kin lives at New
Bedford. Mass. The Nyanza is p
500 ton freighter carrying q peace
time crew or Is. Sh= was built 1T
West Bay CITY Mich, in 1890. and
her home port is Buffalo. y. Y.