The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-11-29
SIMS men FIGHT
U-BOATS DAILY
Win Exciting Battles With Huns
Near the Bay Of
Biscay.
keep TRANSPORT Lane Open
Because Of Unceasing Watch and
GaIlantry Of Crews Shipping
Losses Have Been Confined
, Largely to Freighters.

American Naval Base, France
American destroyers, aided by French
and British vessels, are battling with
the enemy submarines day and night
to keep open the lane through which
American troopships- are bringing the
great army Of American soldiers to
France.
Hardly a day has passed during the
last month in which the American
naval convoy fleet has not had an en-
counter with submarine foe lurking
near the Bay of Biscay, beyond the
waters Of Spain and Portugal. August
was the month Of greatest danger and
greatest vigilance, for the number OF
American. troops coming to France
reached it's maximum in that month.
Keep Transport Lane Open.
Because Of the unceasing watch,
never-ending readiness to pounce upon
the German submarines, and the gal
lantry Of the men on board the Amer
lean and other destroyers, the ship
ping losses have been confined almost
exclusively to freight vessels. The
steady arrival Of American troops has
progressed uninterruptedly throughout
the period Of chief menace. Most OF
the vessels successfully attacked by
submarines have been outward bound
from French ports.
Ten American destroyers took part
in one of the most successful subma-
rine hunts on August 8. They were
heading south in column when the
leading destroyer sighted periscope
on her port bow at 800 yards and gave
chase. The submarine submerged, but
the destroyer steamed ahead Of her
and dropped two depth bombs in her
path and then let 60 IA charges in
circle. Suddenly the bow Of the sub
marine emerged and became the tar
get for the shells Of the destroyer. AS
the submarine again submerged, ap-
parently helpless, the destroyer passed
directly over her and dropped two
charges directly on her at depth Of
200 feet. Nothing further was seen Of
the enemy, and 1t is believed his craft
was completely destroyed.
Another encounter followed SUBJ
marine attack on big American re-
pair ship entering port here. The SUBJ
marines torpedo, fired at close range,
just missed the rudder of the Ameri-
can vessel. An American destroyer
dashed to the attack and dropped
barrage Of depth charges. A streak Of
oil came to the surface, indicating that
the submarine was following a zigzag
course.
Destroyed by Depth Charge.
Another destroyer and several sub
marine chasers joined in the hunt,
dropping depth charges on oil patches
along the route. It is believed the sub
marine was damaged and that several
days later 1t was destroyed by depth
charge.
Unusual activity was displayed by
the submarines in the Bay of Biscay
for two days on August 10 and 18. One
American destroyer reported that she
had destroyed or damaged large en-
envy submarine on August Is. But the
same day three American freighters
were attacked and two of them, the
and Cubore, were sunk.
More than 45O of the crew Of the
French cruiser Du Petit Thouars were
rescued by American destroyers when
she was torpedoed on August 8, elicit
Ing note Of thanks from French naval
authorities to the American naval COM
Highest tribute was paid by
the American naval commander in
France to American, French, and Brit
lsh destroyers which managed to bring
INTO port the American freight steam
err Westward-Ho after she had been
thus saving an extremely
cargo Of airplanes, field ar
illery, rifles, machine guns, and am
nunitiOn.