The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1918-10-25
DES TROYERS KEEP
LANE CLEAR FOR
TROOP SHIPS
SEA PESTS LBRK NEAR BAY OF BISCAY
WHERE DAILY BATTLES OCCURRED
N AUGUST.

American Naval base, france, OcL.
1l.-American deStrOyers, aided by
French and British vessels, are battl-
ing with the enemy submarines day
and night to keep open the lane
through which American trOopshAps
are bringing the great army Of Amer
lean soldiers to France. Hardly "a
day passed during the last month in
which the American naval convoy
feet has not had an encounter with
a. submarine foe lurking near the Bay
4of Biscay, beyond the water or Spain
and Portugal. August was the month
Of greatest danger and greatest vigi-
lance, for the number OF American
troops coming to France reached it,
maximum in that month.
Because or the unceasing watch,
never ending readiness to pounce up
ON the German submarines, and the
gallantry or the men on board the
American and other destrOyers, the
shipping losses have been confined al
most exclusively TO freight vessels
The steady arrival OF American troops
has progressed uninterruptedly
throughout the period or chief men,
ace. Most or the vessels success
fully attacked by submarines have
been outward bound from French
ports. v-.
Ten American destroyers took part
i'm one OF the most successful sub
marine hunts on August 3. They
were heading south in column when
the leading destroyer sighted peri
iscOpe to her port bow, at 500 yards
and gave chase. The submarine sub
merged, but the destroyer steamed
ahead of her and dropped two depth
bombs i'm her path and then let &c
! fourteen charges in a circle. Sudden
i ly the bow of the submarine emerged
and became the target for the shells
Of the destroyer. a. the submarine
again submerged, apparently helpless
the destroyer passed directly OTel
her, dropping two charges directly OH
her at a depth of twenty feet. Moth
ing further was seen or the sub
! marine, and it is believed the Graf
was comnletely destroyed.
u Another encounter followed sub
marine attack OH a biG American re
pair ship entering port here. TN,
\. submarine torpedo, fired at clos,
range, just missed the rudder Or th,
American vessel Am American de
stroyer dashed To the attack ami
dropped ibarrage of depth Rcharges
lA streak or oil came to the surface
indicating the submarine was follow
inc Va zigZag course.
Another destroyer and several sub
marine chasers Joined in the huns
dropping depth, charges ON oil patch
W Imes aIA +lar r%n e. RnTH AEr
submarine was damaged and tina
N iseveral days later 1T was destroyed b,
y depth charge.
ii Unusual activity was displayed b
the submarines In the Bay or Bisca.
on August 15 and 16. One Americas
destroyer reported that she had de
stroyed or damaged a. large enem
submarine on August 15. But Gin
same day three American freighter
!. were attacked, and two OF them, th
Montana and the Cubore, were sunk
N More than $50 OF the crew or th
i French cruiser Dupet Thouars wer
NJ rescued by American destroyers Whel
she was torpedoed on August 8, elicit
III ing note OF thanks from Frencl
naval authorities to the America
naval commander Highest tribut
was. paid by the American Nava
M Commander i'm France to- Amer
v ican, French and British destroyer
which managed to bring into port I'm
VI American freight steamship West
\ ward Ho after she had been tor
" pedOed, thus saving I'm extremel
valuable cargo of airplanes, field ar
tillery, rifles, machine guns and am
munitiOn.