New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-27
The Building of the A. E. +.
Facts and Figures Hitherto Unpublished
IN The Tribune Magazine Sunday
U-Boat, Used as
Ram, Sunk by
The New York
Admiral Rodman Tells of
Encounter in Which Bic
Warsllip Lost Propeller

The part the American overseas fleet
played in batting the German high
seas feet and some of the adventures
his flagship had were described yes
terday by Rear Admiral Hugh Rod
man as he sat in a cushioned chair In
the cabin of the New York, securely at
anchor in the chief river of the state
for which she is named.
He told of a U-boat that rammed the
superdreadnought denting the big
ships plates and smashing propeller
blade, but undoubtedly being sent to
the bottom itself at the next turn OF
the screws
He told of the dreary winter days
when the North Sea horizon drew
close; of the frutless patrolling, the
constant devising Of new schemes to
lure the German fleet from its base,
and Of one memorable occasion when
the Allied vessels were within a few
miles of cutting off the German ships
in midsea, in which case the fighting
would have been opened by American
warships.
He told of the ignominious herding
Of the German high seas fleet to sur
render by saucy British light cruisers
as & surly carabao is led by the nose by
a dimunitive Filipino. And he not only
adorned his tale with incident, but
also pointed moral, declaring: we
must for the preservation of our coun-
Jry's freedom and honor, for our rights
and liberty, for peace and prosperity,
build and maintain navy that Will
insure US these blessings
Admiral Rodman's Story
The admira's yarn follows, just as
he told it, stretched out in his easy
chair:
at is needless, in fact superf1uous'
for me to reiterate that winch is
known and recognized throughout the
civilized world; namely, that 1t was
the Grand Fleet which has been the
very backbone Of the structure which
has made victorious peace GER
tainty. Without it there IS no ques-
ton that the War long ago would have
been disastrously concluded with just
the reverse conditions obtaining from
those which now exist
mo mention can be made OF inc
Grand Fleet without our th0ughlS
naturally turning 20 It's commander
n-chief. Admiral Sir David Beatty; Il
ila m n
ural- born, tried, trusted and gallant
"Under him our combined forces
oneratcd. lust as later all of the
Allied armies were placed under the
direction or command of Marshal
Foch
Work With Grand Fleet
"And now as to our operations with
tho Grand Fleet. 1t need be only suiij-
cicnt for me to say that when we
ioincd we were at once, thanks to our
home training, able to coordinate and
co-opcratc with the British fleet; that
in order to work homogcncously we
adopted their signals and methods OF
communication, their plans, ponclcS'
mannucrcs and tactics; that we took
our share of the work, patrol, search
and of--rotecting conveys INNING and
manded by British admirals, some
times they served under my command; ;
that there was never the slightest trlc~
ton, misunderstanding or petty Jeal-
ousics In fact our mutual association
in this wars work has drawn us so
close together that in the Grand Fleet
it was instrumental in ripcning
friendship with brotherhood
"lt is most gratifying TO state that
Al.
/ ing. and after our iirst operations with
the Grand Fleet. wc>wcre assigned to
one Of the two places of honor and i'm
Dortancc in the battle line. We were
/ known and designated as the Sixth
Battle Squadron, and as one of the
two so-caled fast wings. would take
station at the head or rear Of the whole
! battleship force, dependent upon Ger
! tain conditions, unnecessary to men
! tion, when going into action. As q
matter of fact, when, one one occas
J sion. we anne within a few miles Of
| cutting off from its base and engaging
tho German fleet, the disposition WAS
such that the American battleship dl-
vision would have been in the van and
have led into action had the enemy not
avoided action and taken refuge be
Mind his defenscs, as usual, before We
could catch hun.
Always Hunting Foe
at was our policy to eoafter him
cory time he showed his nose outside
of his ports; no matter when or where,
whether in single ships by divisions
or his whole eet, out we went, day or
night, rain or shine 'and re 1nere vas vas
ighty little dayllghs ana ana mnrn h1on ,HSS h;e5
or orb blow low, and chase him back in
ny $50 persistent was this performance
an onr mart. so sure were we to get