The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-08-06
CHASING U,BOATS
AN EXCITING GAME
Perilous Work of British and
American Destroyers.
SHOWN BY OFFICIAL RECORDS
Landsman May Get Some Idea Of the
Grim Game From Details of Few En-
counters Officially Reported-ThriIl-
ing Story of Rescue Of Crew From
Burning OIL Ship by British De-
stroyer.

The destruction of q German sub
marine Is never announced by the Brit
ish admiralty except upon the strong
est possible evidence, which is oftel
provided by the destroyers that are en-
gagged In long game of hide and seel
with the elusive U-boats under condi
tons of varying excitement. Thu
landsman may obtain some idea of thi!
grim game from the details of officia
records of few encounters as to thu
result of which there is no room fol-
doubt. t..-.
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 it, and every time it attempted and
came to the surface its presence was
detected. n1.
Finally an American destroyer sight.
ed the periscope in favorable position
and headed for 1t, with the intention
Of ramming. A depth charge was 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 1t 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 great rent in the 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 was located,
still lying on the spot where she had
sunk. to...'y .t.
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
over the spot severe shock was felt
throughout the destroyer, and just af-
terward the Germans periscope was
sighted by the destroyer's sister ship,
which fastened to drop bomb on the
U-boat. A heavy explosion resulted,
and 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 ap-
peared on the surface for 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 so !
yards before the U-boat submerged; |
then 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 column of black cOlored wa
ter was thrown to a height of about
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 depth charge and
oil rose to the surface. Later a peri
scope appeared. Another depth charge
was dropped, and more oil was seen.
When darkness fell large and con-
'picuous patch Of oil was observed, and
vas still very clearly marked next
morning. Another depth charge was
1ropped in the middle Of the patch,
vhereupon more oil and bubbles rose
md continued rising for the next two
hours. Sweeping operations were then
and an obstruction was To-
lated on the bottom. More oil rose
o the surface.
Rescued From Burning Ship.
A lieutenant in command Of de-
'troyer discovered that British oiler
lad been torpedoed and set on fire.
She was burning furiously and was
tut of control, although her engines
we're still running. A continuous
tream Of oil fed the flames, which
'revented anyone from entering the en-
Inc room. Her peak was not yet alight,
nd crouched up there were thirty
cinnamon, the remainder of the crew.
To extinguish the fire was beyond
he power of the destroyer's crew, but
Ter captain determined to make an at
empt to rescue the survivors in the