Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-06-14
j. 6. PATROL VESSEL
ENGAGES SUBMARINE,
Using DEPTH BOMBS
Officials Are Wary About An
nouncementS but One Case
of Battle With Raider Known
10 Be T act

WASHINGTON. June ian Ameri-
can coast patrol vessel has had one bat
tie with A German U-boat raider.
From an unquestionable source today
came this fact together with the fact
that the navy has had a mass of reports
from, patrol commanders claiming sub
marines were shot at or bombed.
None of these has hcen made public.
Secretary Daniels has taken the posi-
ton that only absolutely authenticated
cases of capture or sinking will be
announced.
But it can be stated fatty that one
of the many reports indicates beyond
a doubt that a patrol vessel fired on
an actual submarine and dropped depth
bombs about her.
The effect can only be Conjectured.
\ second case, not quite so clear-cut,
yet believed by some officials TO be au-
thentic, is also on record.
Neither of the aforementioned Incl
dents includes the case where a United
states destroyer interrupted a U-boat in
its attempt to sink the Radioleine.
Both the cases cited occurred since
then, but have been kept secret up to
today.
Many naval district reports have come
in since the raiders first appeared, but
the navy has persistently denied that
it had information concerning the sub
marine situation other than what it an
nounced
This was illustrated a few days ago
| whenc the department had news of
the Vinland sinking all day, denied it,
and only reported the sinking at night
after the crew had landed.
Some of the patrol boats claims are
manifessly fantastic. and for that rea-
son are suppressed. The two cases men,
toned above, however, are considered
worthy of consideration.
Among the strange occurrences noted
by the patrol reports was that of a
hydroplane which dropped depth bombs
on a supposed submarine. Submarines
can be seen a considerable distance be-
low the water by a hydroplane oper-
ator).
Later, however. it developed that the
supposed U-boat target was a whale.
Many of the patrolers are naval re-
servists fresh at their tasks. Their en-
thusiasm has carried them away in
many instances, and, hence their re-
ports are inclined to be a bit too pic
turesque to square with the hard cold
facts of U-boat hunting.
The navy department, it was learned
has told them to fire at anything that
they think even remotely indicates a
| submarine. The orders goes on the
theory that il is better to waste shell
on a floating spar, a rorpoise or whale
than to lose a submarine through econo-
ny or conservatism.
Incidentally, the department authori-
ties warn that there is much false in
formation afloat. Shippers and sailors
as is the wont of those who go down
to the sea in ships, are spinning yarns
| of all kinds, while German propagan-
| dists are adding thereto with stories OF
| fancied disasters. Authorities suggest
! editors and the public should weigh
| well some of the Atlantic port" yarns
! now going forth.
1t is all too easy to mistake a wave
| for a wake. and a porpoiSe for a torpedo
| they say, hence the recent outburst OF
| attacks" and SO on. If all the sub
| marines recently sunk or captured" by
rumor had gone, Germany by now would
! have no U-bOat fleet.