El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-01-03

Of reasonable probability they might
be exa operating the truth.
Grading the Cases.
Depth charges have frequently
brought about disablement and sur
render and in other cases, ramming
or the smart use OF bombs has
brought about the desired result
Secondly, examples are given in which
enemy submarines have been de-
strOyed, but their crews saved. Next
there are cases in which the destruc-
ton Of the boat was equally certain.
but circumstances permitted the use
Of only Few survivors.
fourth class comprises attacks on
submarines in which the attacking
vessel had to look to her own safety.
and could not wait 10 bring confirma-
tory evidence IN other cases. again,
IN which there was no urgency 10
leave the spot, all that could be OBJ
served was oil and floating debris and
air bubbles on the surface With
such cases as these we come TO what
may be called the reasonably prob
able" classes. which are capable of a
good deal Of subdivision, according
to circumstances.
Finally, there is the very numerous
class OF combats which could only
nave resulted in damage TO the Z
boats These combats are not TO be
lightly passed over as ineffective. for
through them many valuable ships.
cargoes and precious lives were saved
and in many instances the submarines
may have sustained damage which
would put them out OF commission
for some time
Capture of Boats.
Undoubtedly the most satisfactory
outcome Of a submarine encounter is
for the boat to be capfured with All
her crew. There have been very few
instances OF this kind published. ow-
ing TO the policy Of the admiralty not
to issue Information concerning ths
fate OF 4 U-boat when the enemy
were without means Of knowing what
had become Of her or the precise
method by which she met her fate.
There was. however. the case OF uC5.
which was exhibited in the Thames
In 1917, after her capture off the East
Coast
Another German submarine said TO
have been captured intact was the
U53. which in the autumn OF 1916 Wis
tied Newport, L. s. A. and afterwards
sank several ships off Nantucket. tt
was stated in an American journal
last December that this boat was
taken captive by a French destroyer
and two mine sweeners.
As TO the circumstances IN which
a U-boat could be taken with all her
crew. Sir Eric Geddes told the story,
at the opening at Princes Galleries
OF an exhibition Of color photographs
y
water craft which was operating of
some seaside resort well known 70
the public. Patrol vessels were on
her track. and their chief weanon was
depth charges-"one Of the most no
tent weanons We had" said Sir Eric
which had turned the submarine
from the hunter TO the hunted"
Aimed at this particular boat no
fewer than s. depth CHARGES were
dropped in = period OF y Hours In
the end the harassed Germans
brought their boat TO the surface and
at once surrendered.
Surrender Of UC39.
Depth charges were also primarily
concerned in the destruction Of UC5e,
a new mine laying submarine. The
UC39 dived, but not quickly enough
to prevent depth charge hurled from
a destroyer from reaching this boat.
The effect was to shatter the hull
severely and to start leaks in the
the water pouring down and the
frightened crew getting out OF hand
there was nothing to do but bring the
boat to the surface Here the de-
stroyer was waiting for her and as
the submarine continued to forge
ahead few rounds were fired before
she stopped and surrendered. By this
time her captain had been killed and
other members OF the crew wounded.
but II survivors, who cried kan
Grad" were rescued and with them,
happily. two British prisoners.
These latter were more fortunate
than the Lieutenant and two men cap
tured by the Germans from the British
patrol vessel Columbia. in May, 1915.
who. on the German torpedo boat
being herself captured later in the