The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1918-06-08
U-BOATS FOILED
IN ATTEMPT TO
SINK TROOP SHIP
British Destroyers Fight Off
Subs Says Member of Red
Cross Party.

LONDON, Thursday, June 6.-Ger-
man submarines were foiled in their
attempts against a convoy which in
cluded ships carrying American troops
and American Red Cross workers, ac-
cording to the Reverend Father Jo-
seph Wareing, of Baltimore. one Of
the Red Cross party and who arrived
in London yesterday. The protecting
destroyers got into action quickly on
two occasions last Sunday, but Rev.
Wareing did not know whether any
submarines had been sunk.
To The Associated Press, Rev. Faith
er Wareing, who had q trying expert
ence following the -torpedoing. OF the
British steamer Laconia In February,
1917, said:
"Soon after we reachd the danger
zone our convoy was attacked by Ger
man submarines and for few min
utes thought l was in for another
experience of the Same kind as had
on the Laconia. The exact number OF
the enemy U-boats was not detremin-
ed but at least two were seen.
Guns Begin Popping.
1--WE had a lively escort OF British
destroyers, however, and they were on
the trail of the periscope like flash.
Guns and depth charges began pop
ping like giant fire crackers on the
fourth of July. Fifteen depth charges
were dropped into the nest of German
submarines. Whether any submarines
were sunk cannot say for we were on
fast ship and enveloped in smoke.
but l know we did not lose single
ship. Our convoy carried a large
number of American troops-1 cannot
tell you how many.
when the first alarm was sounded
for the passengers to go to their life
boat stations late on Sunday after
noon, I was in my state room. Word
was passed around that enemy sub
marines had been sighted. had no
sooner reached my station than depth
charges began to explode, shaking the
ship. After a few minutes of anxious
waiting at the life-boat stations we re-
ceived the signal: The enemy has
been beaten off,
Discipline, "superb."
discipline on board was superb.
The troops behaved as If submarine
attack was part Of the every day rou-
tine and there was not the slightest
furry anywhere on board. For cool
ness in time of emergency. l do not
think you can beat these young Amer
leans Their nerves are like steel
1.-TWO hours later on the same day
while I was preparing for dinner, an
other alarm was sounded and almost
simultaneously the destroyers began
dropping depth charges. One landed
within about 500 yards of our ship and
gave it a good shaking.
"At no time during either attack
did I see a periscope or the track of
a torpedo.
When the first alarm was sounded
I have to admit l felt a certain ncrv-
BUSINESS for the alarm bell brought
back to my mind with great vividness
the Laco1ia experience when l suf-
fered considerably from exposure. AS
hurried on deck think almost every
detail of those awful hours which fol-
lowed the Laconia sinking came back
to my mind like a moving picture
and 1t was several minutes before /
got complete command of myself"
After the sinking of the Laconia on
Feb. rs, 1917, the Rev. Father Ware
ing was in the same lifeboat with Mrs.
Mary E. Hoy of Chicago, and her
Miss Elizabeth Hoy. Mrs.
Hoy and her daughter both died of ex-
posure and were buried at sea.
Among the other members Of the
Red Cross party were Professor Dex-
ter of Panama, Professor Whitford
Shelton of the University of Pitts
burgh, the Rev. VIM. Cotton of Tarry-
town, N. Y, the Rev. Robert Coupland
of New Orleans, the Rev. James Con-
over of Rhode Island. and Elton Clark
Of Boston.