The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1918-01-02
CAPTURE OF The
q IS CREW OF U-BOAT
Full Details of the Destruction by
.}Et american Destroyers of German
# Submarine in November Given by
the Navy Department.

/
Washington, Dec. 29.-Fdll details
OF the destruction by American de-
stfoyers of German submarine and
the capture, of its crew made public
today by the navy department show
that the destroyers Tanning and
Nicholson were the warships en-
gagged. The incident was reported
November I'd, but few facts we're
given. j.
The submarine was sunk, the navy
departments story of the affair in
dicates, as it was preparing to at
tack a merchant ship flotilla conveyed
by the destroyers.
Navy Departments Story.
| The navy departments full story
of the incident follows:
"At about 4:1O p. m., while escort
ing convoy, Coxswain David D..
Loomis, lookout on the Tanning,
sighted a small periscope some dis
tance off the port bow, extending
about foot out of the water and
visible for only a few seconds. The
Tanning Immediately headed for the
spot and about three minutes after
the periscopc had been sighted
dropped depth charge. The Mich
olson also speeded to the position OF
the submarine, which appeared to be
heading toward a merchant vessel n
the convoy, and dropped anot' -
depth charge. At that moment the
submarines coming tower appe..2l
on the surface between the Nicholson
and the convoy, and the Nicno,so..
fired three shots from her stern gun
The bow of the submarine came un
rapidly. She was down by the stern
but rightcd herself and seemed to IN
crease her speed. The Nicho.so.
cleared, the Tanning headed for the
U-boat, firing from the bow gun
After the third shot the crew of the
submarine all came on deck and held
up their hands, the submarine sur
rendering at 4:28 p. m.
"The Tanning approached the sub
marine to pick up the prisoners, both
destroyers keeping their batteries
trained on the spot. A line was got
to the submarine, but in few min
utes she sank, the line w&s let go
and the crew of the U-boat jumped
into the water and swan to the Fan.
ming.
Crew Was Exhausted.
"Although the crew all wore life
preservers a number of them were
exhausted when they reached the side
of the destroyer. AS the submarine
sank five or six men were caught by
the radio aerial and carried below the
surface before they disentangled
themselves. Ten of the men were so
weak that lines had to be passed I'M
der their arms to haul them aboard.
One man was in such condition that
he could not even hold the line
thrown him. Chief Pharmacists Mate
Elzer Harwell and Coxswain Francis
G. Connor IN. N. W jumped over
board after this man and secured q
line under his arms. When he was
hauled aboard every effort was made
to resuscitate him, but he died in a
! few minutes. The four officers of the
| submarine and the 35 members of the
crew were all taken prisoners.
"After being taken on board the
prisoners were given hot coffee and
sandwiches. Though kept under
strict guard, they seemed contentcd
and after short time commenced to
Using. To make them comfortable the
crew of the destroyer gave them their
warm coats and heavy clothing.
"The German officers said the first
depth charge had wrecked the ma
chinery of the submarine and caused
her to sink to considerable depth.
Submarine Not Numbered.
"The submarine bore no number
nor distinguishing mark. She was,
however, identified by life belts and
by statements of an officer and men
of the crew. One Of the left belts,
the reports said, had Kaiser marked
on one side and 'Gott' on the other.