South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-31
TELLS STORY Of
OESTROYERS TRIP
Commander Did Not Know
Destination Until Far
Out at Sea.

NEW YORK, Jan. 31-HOw Sc
cretly the United states dispatched
the first flotilla of torpedo boat de-
stroyers last April TO join the Brit
ism navy in the hunt for German
submarines was told for the first
time publicly Wednesday night by
Commander J. X Taussig, United
States navy. who took them across
the Atlantic
The narrative was related before
an audience which thronged car
negie hall 10 celebrate the opening
of war savings stamp campaign in
this city Commander Taussis's sto-
~ Of the work accomplished by the
navy's "greyhounds" far from home
was wildly cheered.
so anxious was the navy depart
ment that the outside world in gen
eral know nothing of the movement
Of these ships" Commander Taus-
sig said. that not even /, who was
in command of the expedition was
informed Of our destination.
My orders were TO proceed TO a
point so miles east OF Cape Cod and
then open my sealed instructions.
Until l got 10 that point at mid
night of the first night out, 1 did
not know that our first port was 70
be Queenstown. Ireland.
1T is quite natural that the few
in authority who knew of our move
ments watched with anxiety for
news of our crossing. 1t was the
first time that vessels of this type
4 L.
passage without refueling or with
out the company of larger vessels.
Trip Takes Ten Days.
I'VE were ten days in making the
trip, due mostly TO a southeast gale,
which accompanied us for seven
days. So rough was the sea during
this time that for seven of the days
we did not set our mess tables. We
ate off our laps. Only the ninth day,
we were pleased TO be met by lit
tie British destroyer named the
Mary Rose She picked us UP
early one morning and came along
flying the international signal Vel
come 10 the American cOlors'
They were very glad 10 see us.
Things were looking black. IN the
three previous weeks the submarines
had sunk 1852 British ships. We i'm
mediately had depth bombs install
ed so as TO fight the submarines.
The night before we entered the
harbor at Queenstown. a German
submarine planted y mines right
in the channel. Fortunately for US,
they were swept aside by the ever
vigiIant British mine sweepers be-
fore we arrived.
I'VE escorted many ships and
saved many lives. l cannot say we
sunk any submarines. The subma-
rine, l found, was a very difficult
bird TO catch He always sees you
first. only once did my vessel in
seven months, succeed in actually
firing at a submarine. He then went
down after the fifth shot was fired
AT that he was FIVE miles away. But
what they are afraid of are the
depth bombs. / cannot say posi-
lively that / sank any submarines.
I saw results on several occasions
which led me 10 believe that / had
at least damaged one or two.
Patrol Duty Difficult.
The patrol duty was very trying,
as the ocean was strewn with wreck
age for a distance of 800 miles off
shore. 1t was hard TO tell a peris-
cope when we saw one. We fired at
fish. floating spars and other objects
because we could not afford 10 take
chance. The submarine grew less
active or did less damage as the
summer wore on.
THE night patrol work was very
dangerous. There were frequent
collisions and we had TO use our
Judgment as 10 whether we should
turn on the lights and avoid danger
of collision and take the risk of a
submarine seeing US, or keep our
lights QUO and take our chances. We
have 10 remember that if a subma-
rine sinks us she only sinks one
ship. serious collision might
sink two ships, SO it is matter
of judgement.
The question is, can we beat the
submarine ." he asked. Il am sure
we can if the people will do their
part"
Commander Taussig said there is
complete cooperation between the
American and British navies in for
There fc friction