Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-06-20
DESTROYER FLEETS
HAD A BUSY Year
Government Has Kept Tight
Mouth on Work They Have
Accomplished.

Washinston-This month marks the
first anniversary of the arrival of
Americas destroyer fleets in foreign
waters.
In the year that has ~elapsed-dur-
ing n year that an inert nation has
shaken off its letlaray n modified
Its resources in men and materials for
the great war-the fleets have oper-
ated effectively in conveying trans
ports and Kidding the sea LINES of the
lurking submarine.
Detailed description or narration of
the work and exploits of Vice Admiral
Sims fleets have not beer revealed.
Sporadically the news cables have car
ried Il succinct dispatch telling of an
engagement between an American de-
stroyer and a submarine, bat the navy
department still confines to its archives
he cumming story of American naval
achievements during the first years
participation in the war.
Some day the entire story will DO
published and the nation will thrill
with pride for the boys Who wore the
blue. To tell effectively. yet briefly.
now successful has been the watch of
Britain's and Americans destroyer
fleets, it is necessary only to point
out that the Wanted submarine offen-
Sive which was to have accompanied
the great drive in the west this spring.
in bringing the allied world to it's
knees, has not materialized Even, may
it be said, it has proved an almost ut
ter failure.
During the past winter German
newspapers frankly disclosed tina the
sea marauders We're being recalled to
their home ports so they might be re-
paired, refitted and ovcrhanled in
preparation for Il campaign that would
sweep the Atlantic routes clear of all
transports and supply ships. Pre-
sumably. Won Tirpitz. the apostle of
ruthless submarine warfare, a his
sea rovers carefully repaired. Pre-
sumabiy. the raiders left port with
he plaldits of cheering crowds ring
ing in their ears. And now. presum-
ably, the U-boats have returned with
Il mighty slim list of victories" to re-
port.
The destroyer fleets have been on
the job.
Warfare on helpless merchant craft
stin continues. But the German sub
marine commander has grown exceed
ingly wary about coming to the sur
face, unless assurance is positive that
no allied destroyers are in the vicinity.
In fact. the submarine is getting in
creasinglY reluctant about exposing any
part of its hide to the disconcertingly
effective gunfire of British and Amer
lean nave. craft. Weekly u few labor
ing trllnps fall victim to the T-boats.
However. the number of sinkincs is de-
creasing at n rate that INDUCES conf
dcnce in he ability of the allies to
minimize the submarine menace The
destroyers patrol the trade routes with
a vigilance that Ices not permit the
submarine TO break surface very often.
\ periscope draws n deluge of gun
fire. while the area in which the UNI
de.sea craft last was seen is converted
rapidly into u whirlin@ field of spray
by depth bombs. During the yea that
the American d~estroyers have been
cunning for U-hoats there has oc-
Cured one incident hat will live in
laval annals. It's the story of the
Tanning.
When the anerny was sighted by the
eyer vigilant lookout. shells from the
Americans guns We're ,aincd on the
subfncrsible in s.lch vollf3e that she
was compelled to come to the surface
and run up the signal of surrender.
The crew-men who gleefrlly had
watched a torpedo blast its way into
the bowels of a helpless merchantmen
lined up on the deck of their fast
sinking boat. held up their hands in
abject terror and begged for mercy.
We're compelled in some cases to leap
overheard to save their enemies from
drowning.
The announcements recently by Sec
rotary Daniels that American war
ships are operating now will, the Brit
ish high seas fleet in Keeping the Ger
mar navy safe behind the borriers OF
Kiel, brings renewed assurance that
the American navy is maintaining its
glorious traditions.
Apparently the German general staff
is desirous OF keeping the fleet intact.
so the prospect OF American dr,aA-