The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1918-11-18
SIMS MEN FIGHT
U-BOATS DAILY
Win Exciting Battles With Huns
Near the Bay of
BiSCay.
keep TRANSPORT Lane OPEN
Because of Unceasing Watch and
GalIantry Of Crews Shipping
Losses Have Been Confined
Largely to Freighters.

American Naval Base, France
American destroyers, aided by French
aud British vessels, are battling with
the enemy submarines day and night
70 keep open the lane through which
American tfoopships are bringing the
great army of American soldiers to
France.
Hardly day has passed during the
last month in which the American
naval convoy fleet has not had an en-
counter with submarine foe lurking
near the Bay Of Biscoy, beyond tho
waters Of Spain and Portugal August
was the month Of greatest danger and
greatest vigilance, for the number Of
American troops coming to France
reached Its maximum in that month";
Keep Transport Lane Open.
Because OF the unceasing watch,
never-ending readiness to pounce upon
the German submarines, and the gal
lantry Of the men on board the Amer,
ican and other destroyers, the Ship
ping losses have been confined almost
exclusively to freight vessels. Tho
steady arrival OF American troops has
progressed uninterruptedly throughout
the period OF chief menace. Most OF
the vessels successfully attacked by
submarines have been outward bound
from French ports.
Ten American 9estroyers took part
in one OF the most successful subna,
rlne hunts ON August 0. They were
heading south in column when the
leading destroyer sighted n pcriscope
on her port bow at 800 yards and gave
chase. The submarine submerged, but
the destroyer steamed ahead of her
and dropped two depth bombs in her
path and then let go IA charges in y
circle. Suddenly the bow of the sub
marine emerged and became the tar
get for the shells of the destroyer. As
the submarine again submerged, ap-
parcntly helpless, the destroyer passed
directly over her and dropped two
charges directly on her at depth Of
200 feet. Nothing further was seen OF
the enemy, and it is believed his craft
wars completely destroyed.
Another encounter followed n sub
marine attack on big American re-
pair shin entering port here. The sub
marines torpedo, fired at close range,
Just missed the rudder of the Ameri-
can vessel. An American destroyer
dashed to the attack and dropped a
bnrrage OF depth charges. A streak or
oil came to.the surface, indicating that
the submarine was following zigzag
course.
Destroyed by Depth Charge.
Another destroyer and several sub
marine chasers joined in the hunt,
dropping depth charges on oil patches
along the route. II is believed the SUBJ
marine was damaged aud that several
days later it was destroyed by depth
charge.
Unusual activity was displayed by
the submarines in the Bay of Biscay
for two days on August Is and I6. One
American destroyer reported that shs
had destroyed or damaged a large en-
envy submarine on August 10. But the
same day three American freighters
were attacked and two Of them, tho
Montanan and Cubore were sunk.
More than 450 of the crew of tho
French cruiser Du Petit Thouars We're
rescued by American destrOyers when
she was torpedoed on August s. elicit
ing note of thanks from French naval
authorities to the American naval COM
mander. Highest tribute was paid by
the American naval commander in
France to American, French, and Brit
ish dcstroyers which managed TO bring
into port the American freight steam
er Westward-Ho after she had been
torpedoed, thus saving an extremely
valuable cargo OF airplanes, field ar
tillery, rifles. machine suns, and am
munition.