Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-02-08
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ESPECIAL DISPATCH 70 MORNING JOURNAL,


Washington, Feb. Much satisfac-
ton is found by officials here in the
unofficial accounts of the destruction
of the British liner Tuscania by a Ger
man submarine which showed that a
destroyer. presumably British, gave
chase to the raider and possibly sank
her with depth bomb.
No details of the attack had come
tonight from Official sources. They
are awaited eagerly. Sorrow over the
first loss Of transport laden with
American troops is tempered by the
growing total of survivors, and the
dominent emotion amony army and
navy men now is the desire to strike
back
Navy officials see no reason to
change their opinion that the subma-
rine menace is being overcome. The
Tuscania incident is regarded as an
isolated case, which may serve to de-
velop additional methods for repellng
the undersea craft and improving the
convoy system. No details of the act
ion will be passed over when full re
ports from the British admiralty are
available.
Detection Apparatus.
Many devices enter into the battle
against the U-boats. some of which
Btr IN,
ventors. Others have heen greatly i'm
proved since the United States entered
the war and the detection apparatus
now installed on American craft is so
successful that British craft are be-
ing similarly equipped.
There have been indications that the
u-boats have learned to fear this abil-
ity of American craft to locate them
at distance and maneuver to bring
tho submerged vessel within range of
a depth bomb. With a destroyer in
the vicinity, the underwater craft
moves carefully, far below the surface
of the water depending on mechanical
ears which bring to her the propeller
beats of the surface vessel. When a
destroyer stops to listen" unhamper-
ed by the beat of her own engines,
the lurking foe also stops, to lie silent
below until the destroyer moves on
again.
Evade the Destroyers.
Such details as have come from
Europe indicate that the Tuscania was
torpedoed by single submarine which
slipped under the advance screen of
destroyers leading the convoy fleet.
There is no evidence of an attack in
force and the U-boat probably got into
the path of the liner largely by chance.
Sometimes as many as forty vessels
make up a convoy fleet
War department officials would say
nothing today as to the destination cf
the Tuscania. It was admitted that
American troops had been sent forward
by British transatlantic liners on sew
eral occasions. There are 9epbrts that
the great White Star Liner Olym pic,
largest of the British merchant fleet
and second only to the now American
Leviathan formerly the German Va
terland, had been emplayed in that
work.
Express AmazemCnt.
There is no indication in the loss of
the Tuscania that concentration of
submarines against Americon troop
ship lines has been made. On the cen
trary, the efforts of the German high
command still appear to be dir ,cted
primarily against the carg, craft
bound for British ports. ...
AS the roll Of missing from the Tus-
cania dwindled today. expressions cf
amazement were heard frequently that
crowded transport could be torpe To-
ed with such comparatively small loss
of life. The nearness Of rescue craft
the fact that the vessel was afloat for
two hours after torpedo had expiod-
(continued on Page Two.)