The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1918-06-01
j. S. NAVY ADDS TO
GLORY Of TRADITION
HUNTING U-BOATS.
Nation Will Thrill With Pride When
Whole Story of Activities
Is Told
VICTORIES" MAKE SLIM LIST
German Commanders Wary of At
tacking Merchantmen If Des-
troyer Is Near.
MAKE SLIM LIST

WASHINGTON, May 2S.-1hlS
month marks the first anniversary OF
the arrival of Americans Destroy
er fleet in foreign waters.
In the year that has elapsed
during a year that an inert nation
has shaken off it's lethargy moblllzed
its resources in men and materials
for the Great War-the fleets have
operated effectively in conveying
transports and ridding the sea planes
of the lurking submarine.
! Detailed description Or narratives
of the work and exploits of Vice Ad-
miral Sims fleets have not been
revealed. Sporadically the news ca
bles have carried succinct dispatch
telling of an engagement between
an American destroyer and sub
marine, but the navy department
still confines to it's archives the run
ming story of American naval
achievements during the first yea. S
participation in the war.
Some day the entire story will be
published, and the nation will thrill
with pride for the boys who wore
the blue. To tell effectively, yet
briefly, how successful has been the
! watch of Britian's and Americans
destroyer fleets, it is necessary only
to point out that the vaunted sub
marine offensive which was to have
accomplished the great drive in the
West this spring in bringing the Al
lied world to its knees has not ma
terialized. Even, may it be said, 1t
has proved an almost utter failure.
Slim List of "Victories"
In the last winter, German news
papers frankly disclosed that the sea
marauders were being recalled to
their home spots so they might be
repaired, refitted and overhauled in
preparation for a campaign that
would sweep the Atlantic routes Of
all transports and supplyships. Pre-
sumably Won Tirpitz, the apostle Of
ruthless submarinewarfare, has his
sea-rovers carefully repaired. Pre-
sumably the raiders left port with
the plaudits of cheering crews ring
ing in their ears. And now, presum
ably, the U-boats have returned
with a mighty slim list of victories
to report.
The destroyer fleets have been o.
the job
Warfare on helpless merchan
craft continues. But the German
submarine commander has grown ex
ceedingly wary about coming to the
surface unless assurance is positive
that. no Allied destroyers are in tn
vicinity In fact, the submarine i
getting increasingly reluctant about
exposing any part of its hide to the
| disconcertingly effective gunfire of
British or American naval craft.
| weekly few laboring tramps fall
victim to the U-boats. However the
| number of sinkings is decreasing at
a rate that induces cofidece in the
ability of the Allies to minimize the
submarine menace. The destroyers
patrol the trade route with vigil
ance that does not permit the sub
marine to break surface very often.
| A periscope draws a deluge of gun
| fire, while the area in which the un-
| dersea craft last was seen is con-
verted rapidly into whirling field
| of spray by depth-bombs. In the year
| that the American destroyers have
| been cunning" for U-boats one in
cident will live in naval annals. It's
the story of the Tanning.
Risk Drowning to Save Foes.
When the enemy was sighted by
the ever-vigilant lookout, shells
from the Americans guns were rain
ed on the submersible in such volume
that she was compelled to come TO
the surface and run up the signal
of surrender. Thecrew-men who glee-
fully had watched torpedo blast
it's way into the bowels of helpless
merchantmen-line up on the deck
of their fast sinking boat, held up
their hands in 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
Secretary Daniels that American
| warships are operating with the Brit
ish highseas fleet in keeping the
German nayysafe behind the barri-
ers of Kiel, brings renewed assur-
ance that the American navy is
maintaining its glorious traditions.
Apparently the German Genera!
Staff is desirous of keeping the fleet
intact, so the prospect OF American
dreadnaughts engaging with enemy
craft is not encouraging at present
The British have been watching
and waiting for four long years fol
the German fleet to come out ano
give battle. If the Germans ever are
induced to leave the protection OF
their mine-fields and get out in the
wide reaches of the North Sea, {
sea battle will be staged, it is predict
ed that will make the encounter a.
| Jutland resemble skirmish.
t.