Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1919-01-24
TALKS OF LIFE
ON DESTROYER
Marvin Noble ON Kimberley
When Latter Destroys
Enemy Submarine


ter being home about a week, on his
return to Boston to rejoin his ship, the
e. S. destroyer Kimberley. Marvin
has been on this ship ever since she
was commissioned over a year ago. III
fact. worked OH the boat for some time
before it was completed and placed III
commission. For the past four
months he has been chief cook. Mar
vim had not been home for three years.
He enlisted in the navy three months
before the United States entered the
war.
The Kimberley is one of Uncle Sans
finest dcstroyers. It was the flagship
of the fiOtilla Of tWenty-four destroy
ers that the United States placed in the
north Atlantic with Queenstown, Ire
land. as its base, being the newest and
largest ship of the fleet. This "crack
ship was honored by being selected to
lead the presidential escort into the
harbor of Brest. a distinction that
every man on the ship was much
elated over.
Marvin said he enjoyed the life in
many respects. said his boat has Il fine
bunch of good fellows III the crew and
a splendid set Of officers, but, judging
from his description, on a destroyer
is no sinecure nor .suap. DestrOyers
are built narrow of beam, long and
comparatively shallow, and while they
have great speed they roll terribly
when the sea is rough and when under
way the deck is almost untenable on
account Of seas continually sweeping
it from bow to stern. All have to stand
and keep an arm wrapped around a
stanchion while eating and the boys
have to strap themselves into their
hunks when they roll in" or they
would roll out the next instant.
Marvin gave the NewsBudget an
interesting account Of how his ship ac-
counted for one German submarine,
the U91. This submarine, which was
one Of the largest cruiser type, had
been operating off the coast of the
United States Late in October the
German wireless station at Nauen sum
moned the U91, among others, home
and the British caught the U91's an
swer, deciphered the code and learned
it's position.
The probable route Of the under-sea
pirate was figured out it's speed calcu-
lated and measures taken to make it
permanently submarine if possible.
The Kimberley was notified to patrol a
designated part of the sea in quest Of
the enemy vessel and a few hours af-
ter reaching the locality specified. the
"iStenpr" stationed with a very deli
cate and, wonderful instrument in the
bottom of the ship reported that they
were nearing the submarine. The sub
marine, also equipped with listeners
was also soon aware of the presence Of
the destroyer. and although the two
boats were then miles apart, and one
beneath the surface of the sea, there
then ensued one of the most exciting
games of ''hide-and-seek" that Marvin
said he had ever participated in. The
destroyer would proceed at its highest
speed for some time and then stop and
''isten," They had to come TO COM
plete stop to eliminate the vibration OF
the ship before the instrument could
be used. The "tin fish," as Marvin
called it, changed its course frequently.
in endeavoring to escape. but to no
avail Finally, when the Kimberley
came to stop, the listener" reported
that the submarine was directly be
meath. At no little peril to the Kim
berley itself. several depth charges
were Immediately dropped over the
stern and the terrific explosions tossed
the stern of the destroyer high in the
air and sent up great columns of wa
ter like giant geysers. The Kimberley
Immediately got under way, proceeded
a short distance and again listened .
The submarine was still in motion,
proceeding very slowly and apparent
ly badly crippled The Kimberley then
finished the sub. by quickly dropping
depth bombs in circle around her.
Evidence of the success of the job was
given by the large quantity Of Oil
pieces of wood, canvas and other debris
that Immediately came to the surface
of the sea churned by the bombs
There were no survivors.
The Kimberley rescued twelve men
of the Z. S. destroyed Shaw when the
latter was cut III two by the liner
| Aquitania Both the Shaw and the
Kimberley were part Of the convoy Of a
! large fleet of transports, the entire
! fleet tearing through the sea, zigzag-
ging first one way and then another
without solitary light. A trifiine
error in calculation and the Shaw
rushed directly in front of the huge
Aquitania. which never even paused
after cutting the smaller boat in two.
Marvin will soon go to CuDa on the
Kimberley. where the ship will partici-
pate in feet maneuyers.