The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-04-10
us. SUBMARINES
CROSS IN GALES
Brilliant Achievement in Nov.
ing L. s. Flotillas to Europe
in Midwinter.
NOT ONE VESSEL LOST
Boats Arc Now Doing Work
Near Bases Of the Enemy's
Submersiblcs.
NOT ONE VESSEL LOST

wAsBISoroS, April SIN the face OF
bitter winter gales. American subma-
rines. primarily designed for operations
on the home coasts. have crossed the At.
lantio TO engage in the common dEhi
asainst German U-boats. They are now
aiding allied naval forces. a. are Amer
ican destroysrs and American naval air.
mon. and they ,shsye bseA In The war
some for some months.
Secretary DaHtsAs revselsd ths fact
that the submarines had gone "over
there" in his address at Cleveland last
saturday at a Liberty Loan celebration.
, but save no details. II 10 now possible.
however. to tell for the nrst time OF the
midw!nte- passage OF the boats across
the seas In the face Of the most severe
weather known in years. In the perious
passages the best traditions OF the SER
vice have been maintained.
The mrs: submarines to leave got un-
der way in. early winter. ARRANGEMENTS
for the trip were made without hint
appearing In the Newspaper and, in
fact. until Secretary Daniels spoke. no
word of the participation Of the under
water boats in the war against Germany
had been published.
Not One Met Disaster
The navy had some experience with
, long distance work with subrtfa rines on
| which to draw. Boats had been sent to
the Philippines. to Hawaii and to Pan.
anna, but always in mild seasons Of the
year: and with plenty Of time for pre-
cauttonary steps.
Thin TINA hn~A0Ae thAS. rarA ~ %
In winter and q terrible winter AZ that.
| with the Atlantic In its ugiiest mood.
The steps taken to get them across can
not be disclosed. but tho fact that the
| department has no disaster to record 10
pointed to as proof Of their su.tic;ency.
| Ofncers and men OF the submarines
faced hard days as they put out.
Cramped In narrow quarters and with
storms In prospect. they s;eered to sea
| with complete confidence In themselves
and their boats. 4. iacon!c report OF
uneventful voyages bore out that conf
dence.
In mld-December others got started.
While It was fair on sailing day. ahead
Of the submarines q 100 mile gale was
| brewing. Into II they ploushed. rolling
and tumblIng. Details OF the con,man-
ders' reports have not been made pub.
lie. but among the crews undoubtedly
were men who recalled the first employ
nent OF the submarines at maneuvres.
when seasickness all but put the fio;illa
oat Of commission.
But there was no falteriag. The boats
were going 10 the front In real warfare
this ;ime. Even when towiines parted
in some cases, unknown to the tugs and
| accompanying craft. the submarines bat
tied forward alone. A majority OF them
| reached their destination under their
own power. ready for duty.
Driven Far From Course.
Some Of the boats were driven far
from their course. They showed up at
different ports. but promptly put to sea
again and reached their station.
Ono boat was the hard luck vesse, OF
the lot. Separated from the notilla in
the FIRST storm and It's compasses Gu: Of
order. II turned homeward. only to strike
However. It made port successfully and
undamaged.
With new fuel and supplies aboard
and with q man or two. worn out by the
long struggling with tho elements, re-
placed. In q few days tho boat put to
sea again. II went through that time.
despite fourth gale Il encountered.
Little has been said Of the work Of the
British and French submarines In the
U-boat hunt They are playing q defi-
mite part. however. and lurking close to
enemy bases. There have been eneount-
ers between submarines which read like
fiction. The service has been described
a. a trying one. for which men Of cour-
age and daring are needed. 1t fs In this
work. presumably. that the American
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