South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-06-06
MONSTER U-bOAT
ATTACKED SHIP
Captain of French Liner Says
Submarine Looked to be
Size of Destroyer.

WASHINGTON. June s. - The
story Of the captain Of the French
tanker Rsdioleine. attacked by a
submarine of the Maryland coast
Yesterday. reached the navy depart
ment today. showing that the raider
had fired > shots at the Frenchman
from long RANGE before an Ameri-
can destroyer, answering an 5. O. 5.
appeared.
The destroyer passed full speed
ahead toward the enemy. which
promptly submerged When the de-
stroyer reached the spot where the
U-boat had disappeared, the Radio
leine was too far away TO see what
happened. None Of the shots nit the
tanker. and three which she fired
at the raider went over!
Large As Destroyer.
The captain said the submarine
was so big that when his lookout
sighted her six miles away ne re-
ported her as an American de-
stroyer
Following is the navy depart
ments summary OF the Frenchman's
story:
The submarine was so bis that
al first the lookout thought il was
an American destroyer. He was
about six miles distant from the
Radioleine. The submarine when
sighted lay about two miles from "A
three masted sailing ship (proOa bly,
the schooner Edward r. Baird jr.,
which later was bombed and sunk
and the lookout reported it 10 the
captain as "A destroyer. But the
captain with his glasses recognized
il as "A submarine. Tie captain was
in doubt as TO the nationality so Jid.
not fire, but manned his guns. He
changed his course from east 10
west, and the submarine opened fire,
but the Frenchman still held his fire
until the submarine hred he second
time Then he fired range about
1000 meters.
The French ship fired in all three
shots He kept "a direct c. urse and
did not zig gag. The 5, bmarine
hred between 1 and 20 sh us. The
Frenchman heard two shoIs about
10 minutes before he sigh Ted the
submarine. He believes the ie were
fired TO stop sailing ship.
The submarine lay broat side TO
the Radioleine when the captain
sighted it. Apparently son one
from the submarine was O.. board
the sailing ship. Whether or not
their boarding party was takinS
stores he was uncertain At no time
was the submarine closer than six
miles 10 the Radioleine. The Radio
leine was making good speed while
getting away No shots hit her. No
damage was done and there were
no casualties.
HOSTS French Colors.
NO flag was visible on the sub
marine. Before the Radioleine fred
she hoisted the French colors. The
schooner mentioned was a three
masted schooner with all sails set.
No fiass were discern bic. therefore
the name and nationality were un-
known 10 the Frenchman.
At 9:15 a. m. June 4. the Radio
leine saw an English smoke box
adrift and later passed large
quantity OF apparently recent wreck
age. At 1:40 p. m. ne heard three
shots at the head and 10 the north
ward of his position. He heard one
more shot at 2:O5 and one more at
2:15. At 7:15 a. m. apparently the
time when he sighted the submarine
he sent an s .. :. and shortly after
ward some one unknown answered
%. X, 5. .. = At 1855 a. m. he
sighted a destroyer.
The destroyer passed the Radio
leine at $40 making all speed
heading in TIE direction Of the sub
marine. Apparently the destroyer
did not see the submarine until the
Radioleine changed course 70 star
board. as the captain OF the Radio
leine purposely kept between the
submarine and the destroyer so the
submarine would not see the de-
stroyer.
LAS soon as the submarine saw
the destroyer he submerged. The
captain did not see the submarine
again and is una bic 10 tell what the
destroyer did. because the Radio
leine was too far away when the de
stroyer reached the spot where the