The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-06-01
A YEAH AT SEA. A. '.r'
American DestrOyers Have Done
Their Part to Defeat Submarine
Warfare.

rival of Americas destroyers fleets in
| foreign waters.
In the year that has elapsed
during year that an inert nation has
shaken off it's lethargy and mobilized
us resources in men and materials for
the great war-the fleets have oper-
ated effectively in convoying trans.
J ports and ridding 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
nave carried a succinct despatch tell
ing of an engagement between am
American destroyer and a submarine
but the navy department still con-
fines to its archives the running story
OF American naval achievements dur
ing the first years participation i'm
the war.
Some day the entire story will he
published, and the nation will thrill
wi(h pride for the boys who wore the
blue. TO tell effectively, yet briefly.
now successful has been the watch
OF Britain's and Americas destroyer
fleets, it is necessary only to point out
that the vaunted submarine offensive
which was to have accompanied the
great drive i'm the West this spring
i'm bringing the Allied world to its
knees, has not materialized. Even,
may it be said, it has proved an al
most utter failure.
During the past winter, German
| newspapers frankly disclosed that the
sea marauders were being recalled to
their home ports so they might be re
paired, refitted and overhauled in
preparation for a campaign tha,
would sweep the Atlantic routes cleal
OF all transports and supply ships
Presumably Won Tirpitz, the apostle
OF ruthless submarine warfare, had
his sea-rovers carefully repaired. Pre-
sumably the raiders left port with the
plaudits of cheering crowds ringing
i'm their ears. And, now, presumably
the U-boats have returned with
mighty slim list Of victories" to re-
port.
The destroyer fleets have been OF
the job!
Warfare on helpless merchant
craft still continues But, the Ger
man submarine commander has
grown exceedingly wary about coming
to the surface unless assurance l.
positive that no Allied destroyers arc
in the vicinity In fact, the subma
rlne is getting increasingly reluctani
about exposing any part of it's hide
to the disconcertng effective gunfirt
of British or American naval craft
Weekly a few laboring tramps far
victim to the U-boats. However the
number of sinkings is decreasing a
rate that induces confidence in tn
ability of the Allies to minimize tht
submarine menace. The destroyers
patrol the trade routes with a vigil
ance that does not permit the subma
rine to break surface very often.
periscope draws deluge of gun n-fire
while the area i'm which the underses
craft last was seen is converted rapid
ly into whirling field OF spray by
depth bombs. During the year thai
cunning for U-boats there has oc-
Cured one incident that will live in
naval annals. It's the story of the
Tanning
When the enemy was sighted by
| the ever-vigilant look out, shells from
| the Americans guns were raned or
the submersible in such volume thai
she was compelled to come to the
surface and run up the signal of sur.
|
fully had watched torpedo blast it.
way into the bowels of a helpless
nerchantman-lined up on the decl
of their fast sinking boat. held VI
their hands i'm abject terror and beg.
ged for mercy. They were saved
but American boys were compelled in
some cases to leap overheard to save
their enemies from drowning.
The announcement recently by Sec
retary Daniels that American war
ships are operating now with the
| British high seas fleet in keeping the
German navy safe behind the bar
ricrs of kiel. brings renewed assur-
ance that the American navy il