Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-02-06
EVEN COMMA NDER DIDN'T KNOW
Where Vessels We're Bound Till Far
On Perilous Way.

New York, Jan. 30.-LFIow secretly
the United States dispatched the first
fotilla Of torpedo boat destroyers last
April to join the British navy in the
hunt for German submarines, was
told for the first time publicly to-
night by Commander ]. X. Taussig,
U.S.N., who took them across the At
lantic.
The narrative was related before
an audience which thronged Carnegie
Hall to celebrate the opening Of
war savings stamp campaign in this
city. Commander Taussig's story of
the work accomplished by the navy's
"greyhounds" Jar from home was
widely cheered
so anxious was the Navy Depart
ment that the outside world in gene
raj knew nothing of the movement OF
these ships" Commander Tausslg
said, that even I, who was in COM
mand Of the expedition, was not in
formed Of our destination.
Orders ht Sea.
"My orders were to proceed to a
point SO miles east Of Cape Cod, and
then open my sealed instructions.
Until got to that point, at midnight
on the first night out. did not know
that our first port OF call was to be
Queenstown, Ireland.
ut is quite natural that the few in
authority who knew of our move
ments, watched with anxiety for
news of our crossing.
eve were ten days in making the
trip, due mostly to southeast gale
which accompanied us for seven Of
the ten days. On the ninth day, we
were pleased to be met by little
British destroyer named the Mary
Rose She picked us up early one
morning and came along flying the
international signal Welcome to
American colors.'
They were very glad to see us.
Things were looking black. In the
three previous weeks the submarines
had sunk 1872 British ships. We i'm
mediately had depth bombs installed
so as to fight the submarines. The
night before we entered the harbor
at Queenstown a German submarine
planted 12 mines right in the chan
mel. Fortunately for us, they were
swept up by the ever vigilant British
mine sweepers.
Saved Many Lives.
eve escorted many ships and we
saved many lives. cannot say we
sank any submarines. The subma-
rine found was very difficult bird
to catch. He always sees you first.
Only once did my vessel, in seven
months, succeed In actually firing at
submarine. He then went down
after the fifth shot was fired. At that
he was five miles away. But what
they are afraid Of are the depth
bombs. can not say positively that
| sank any submarines.
THE partol duty was very trying,
as the ocean was strewn with wreck
age for a distance Of 200 miles off
shore. 1T was hard to tell peri
scope when we saw one. We fired at
fish, floating spars and other objects
because we could not afford to take
chance. The submarines grew
less active or did less damage as the
summer wore on
THE night patrol work was very
dangerous. There were frequent COL
lisions, and we had to use our judg-
ment as to whether we should turn
on the lights ana avoid danger of
collision and take the risk of a sub
marine seeing us or keeping orr
lights out and take our chances. The
question is can we beat the subma-
rine. assure you that we can If the
people will do their part"
Commander Taussig said there IS
complete cooperation between the
American and British navies in for
eign waters.
Kil,ourne May Lose Eye.
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