The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-06-08
j. 5. DESTROYERS
HAVEBUSY YEAR
BEATING U-BOATS
A merica Makes Great
Progress In Navy Dur
ing Past Year
SUB CHAsERS ARE
RIGHT ON THE JOB
Titanic Naval Battle Due
If Hun Fleet Appears
In Open

Washington-ThIs month marks
the first anniversary Of the arrival
of Americas destroyer fleets in for
! eign waters.
In the year that has elapsed-dur-
ing a year that an inert nation has
shaken off its lethargy and modified
It's resources in men and materials
for the great war-the fleets have
operated effectively in conveying
transports and Kidding the sea lanes
OF the lurking submarine.
Detailed description or narratives
Of the work and exploits Of Vice Ad-
miral Sims fleets have not been re-
vealed. Sporadically the news cables
have carried a suCcinct dispatch tell
ing Of an engagement between an
American destroyer and a submarine,
but the navy department still con-
fines to its archives the running
story of American naval achieve
ments during the first years partici-
patton in the war.
Some day the entire story will be
published. and the nation will thrill
with pride for the boys who wore the
blue. To tell effectively, yet briefly,
how successful has been the watch
Of Britain's and Americas destroyer
fleets, It Is necessary only to point
out that the Wanted submarine Of
fensive which was to have accom-
panied the great drive in the west
this spring in bringing the allied
world to It's knees. has not material
lied. Even, 1t may be said, It has
proved an almost utter failure.
During the past winter, German
newspapers frankly disclosed that
the sea marauders were being recall
ed to their home ports, so they might
be repaired, refitted and overhauled
IN preparation for a campaign that
would sweep the Atlantic routes clear
Of all transports and supply ships
Presumably, Won Tirpitz, the apostle
OF ruthless submarine warfare, had
his sea rovers carefully repaired.
Presumably. the raiders left port
with the plaudits OF cheering crowds
ringing in their ears. And, now, pre-
sumably, the U-boats have returned
with mighty slim list Of victories"
TO report.
The destroyer fleets have been on
the Job!
Warfare on helpless merchant
craft still continues. But. the Ger
man submarine commander has
grown exceedingly wary about COM
ing to the surface unless assurance
Is positive that no allied destroyers
are in the vicinity. In fact, the sub
marine is getting increasingly re-
luctant about exposing any part Of
i've gunfire Of British or American
naval craft. Weekly a few laboring
tramps fall victim to the U-boats.
However, the number of sInkings is
decreasing at g. rate that induces
confidence in the ability Of the allies
to minimize the submarine menace.
The destroyers patrol the trade
routes with a vigilance that does not
perTRit the submarine to break sur
A a
oeluge OF Rundre. while the area
in which the undersea craft last was
seen Is converted rapidly into q
VhirIing field Of spray by depth
bombs. During the year that the
American desroyers have been gun
ming" for U-boats there has occurred
one incident that will live in naval
annals. It's the story OF the Fam
ming.
When the enemy was sighted by
by the ever vigilant lookout,
shells from the Americans guns
were rained on the gubmersible in
such volume that she was compelled
to come to the surface and run up
the signal Of surrender. The crew
men who gleefully had watched a
torpedo blast its way into the bow
| els Of a helpless northumberland
up on the deck OF their fast sinking
terror and begged for mercy. They
were saved. but American boys were
compelled in some cases to leap over
board to save their enemies from
drowning.
The announcement recently by
Secretary Daniels that American
warships are operating now with the
British high seas fleet in keeping the
German navy safe behind the bar
/ Tiers of KEEL, brings renewed asslr-
ance that the American navy is
maintaining Its glorious traditions.
Apparently the German general
staff is DESTROYS of keeping the feet
intact, so the prospect of American
dreadnaughts engaging with enemy
craft is not encouraging at present.
The British have been watching
and waiting for four long years for
the German feet to come out and
give battle. IL the Geranns ever
are induced to leave the protection
of their mine fields and get out in
the wide reaches OF the North sea,
sea battle viii be staged, 1t is pre-
| dicted. that win make the encounter
at Jutland resembls slEirmIsh,