The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-01-14
NAVY GUN CREW
| FOUGHT U-B0AT
Story of American Bravery
Is Told in Official
Report
SAVED THE j. l..
LUCKENBACH
Promised u. S. Destroyer
Speeding to Rescue They
Would Never Surrender

= is told in an official statement issued b
4 the navy department describing the ST
n cessful defense of the American steam
8 ship j. L. Luckenbach in battle lastin
!. for four hours.
J.. Seven men were wounded aboard tn
e American armed merchantmen, the shi
caught fire and her engines were dam
= aged, but after an American destroye
: had put the U-boat to flight, she wa
able to make repairs and proceed
a The attack on the Luckenbach oc
CURED on Oct. 10, while the vessel wa
on her way to a French port. All mem
,, bers of the naval crew have been Off
: cially commended and the merchant sail
ors are also praised.
As typical of the spirit with whicl
the Americans fought it is related tina
after the destroyer had picked up thu
Luckenbach's signal, she was asked how
soon she could come into action.
1.-TWO hours" was the answer.
"Too late" flashed the Luckenmah.
"Don't surrender" advised the destroy
er.
|. Never" was the reply.
Text of Statement.
The text of the statement follows:
At 1880 n. m. the after lookout on the
Luckenbach reported steamer abeam
The commander of the armed guard
sighted her himself about one point for
ward of the port beam. Upon looking
at the steamer, which appeared very sus-
pcious, through the glasses, sail APP
peared on her. Both guns were trained
on the steamer. The armed guard com
mander then went aloft to obtain beta
ter view. When he was half way up, the
supposed steamer turned out to be sub
marine and opened fire. The time was
then about 1880 o'clock.
"The Luckenbach Immediately opened
fire with both guns. The first two or
three shots fired by the submarine fell
about 1000 yards short. She was firing
at long range. The Luckenbach's shots
also fell short As the submarine APP
peared to be closing in, the captain was
told to put the stern of the Lucken-
bach to her, which he did Distress sig
nails were sent out by wireless.
"The submarine closed in to about g.
900 yards. Early in the battle one shot
from the submarine landed on the deck
forward on the port side and exploded
in the gun crews quarters, starting fire
which partially destroyed the quarters
and burned the effects of the g,n crew.
The same shot burst the fire main. The
fire main was blocked off and water final
" got to the fire. Steam was also turned |
on the flames. Shortly after the first
shot landed another shot struck the quar- |
termaster's room without doing much |
damage.
A shot landed near the stern and ex-
ploded. putting the after gun out of com
mission.
"At least 225 rounds were fired by the
submarine, out of which there were only
nine clean hits, the commander reports.
Pieces of shell were falling all around
the deck. Two shots landed on the port
side forward, striking the oilers room
and putting a large hole in the side; one
landed on the port side at the waterline,
hitting the fresh water tank and de-
,troying most of the fresh water sup
ply.
another landed in the petty officers
mess room and exploded, putting the ash
loist out of commission and bursting
he steam pipe, also wounding two men,
me mess boy and one fireman. One shot
passed through the weather screen on the
fridge and landed in the cargo, exploding !
nut not starting a fire.
"Pieces of shell hit Luther ", one of |
he armed guard in three places. One 1
# the ships crew who was carrying am :
nunition forward was hit. Another shell I
Exploded in the engine room, wounding /
he first and third engineers and putting |
he engine out of commission. C
BELL, one of the guns crew was 60
ng up the forward ladder carrying am n
lunition when the shell that landed in :
he quartermaster's room exploded the | (
umes from the shell binding him for h
bout two hours.
The distress calls sent out had been
nswered by United States destroyer
t $40, which was asked how quickly it
1uld arrive at the scene" Two hours"
-as the reply. The captain of the Luck
nbach said TOO late. Look for boats"
Don't surrender" came back the mes il
,ge, and the Luckenbach replied: "Nev-
"At about ii a. m. smoke was sighted
4 the horizon. The vessel was headed
ward the smoke to lessen the distance j.
he destroyer would have to come Ii q
as shortly after this that the engines "
ere temporarily put out of commission u
' an explosive shell. At about 1880 =
lie destroyer fired her first shot at the re
Ibmarine, which submerged ten min pi
es later.
"The Luckenbach had commenced fir oI
g about 7:40 and ceased firing at ll:4O, 81
2 rounds being fired at the submarine. n
1.-THE ships crew behaved creditably.
trouble being experienced in getting 1
EN- to pass ammunition, the eomman- =
r of the armed guard reports. The
emen stayed below. Great praise is 2
lie to the armed guard for the manner
which they performed their duty. .
The men stationed at the guns never
nched. When the after gun was put
{ of commission, the after pointers -
me to the forward gun and relieved '
e another as l67 rounds were fired 9
{ of the forward gun. II. Hodges, chief
atswain's mate, was a great help. do %
2 most Of the spotting from the top .
the wheelhouse, while the armed guard
was taking care Of things
ound the decks and gus.
The destroyer stood by until the en-
hes were repaired. which took about
o hours and a half. and then escorted
sHaE a.fharh "a n runxnx- rrtsrL x.-N