Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1919-01-16
WHAT AMERICAN CHASERS
DID AT DURAzZO FIGHT

Inc part winch American subnla-
rlne chasers played in the destruction
OF the Austrian naval base at Durazzo
on OCT. z, in cooperation with Brit
4sh ana Italian forces, is told in re-
ports Just received by the navy de-
partment.
-Four Norwich boys were on the
American chasers engaged in the at
tack Leo Jacques of Taftville, on the
NO. 49, John Fl. Cunningham of Otis
street on the No. 1928, George @.
Smith Of Laurel Hill avenue on the
No. 179, and William Fleming of
LhameSrllle on one of the other
chasers.
The British force commander in a
dispatch forwarded through the Brit
ism admiralty to Admiral Sims said:
II am most grateful for the valuable
service rendered by twelve submarine
chasers under Captain Nelson, U. S.
n, and Lieutenant Commander Bas-
tedo, L. S. n, which l took the lib
erty Of employing in an operation
against Durazzo on Oct 3. They
screened heavy ships during the bonn
bardments under enemy fire; also
apparently destroyed definitely one
submarine which torpedoed H. NJ. s..
Weymouth, and damaged and prob
ably destroyed another submarine,
During the return voyage they assist
ed in screening II. NJ. S. Weymouth.
and in escorting enemy hospital ship
which was being brought in for ex-
animation. Their conduct throughout
was beyond praise. They all returned
| safely without casualties. They thor
oughly enjoyed themselves"
A dispatch to Admiral Sims from
Rome stated:
italian Naval General Staff ex-
| presses highest appreciation of use
| full and efficient work performed by
| United States chasers in protecting
major naval vessels during action
| against Durazzo; also vivid admira-
ton of their brilliant and clever OPP
erations which resulted in sinking
two enemy submarines"
1t was on Sept % that the com
| mander at Corfu received a dispatch
from Brindisi asking if twelve Amer
| lean submarine chasers could be ready
| to leave the next day for special
! service" They were told to have
abord stores for four days, and were
informed that further orders would be
sent Sunday afternoon. The American
reply to this hurry call was one word
| Yes" The next morning Captain
Nelson wired Brindisi that he was
ready and waiting orders. The chas-
ers arrived at Brindisi Monday morn
ing and were told the plan for the at
tack on Durazzo and the part they
were to take. On Wednesday they
Joined in the operation.
TIL submarine chasers assigned an6
their officers were:
INIT r
Lieut.. Commander P. H. Bastedo Of
Buffalo, N. Y; Lieutenant T. Wildor
A. OFT, Ridgeway, S, c.; Ensigr
Harold B. Thomas of New Haven
Conn.
No. 128-Ensign Hilary r. Cham.
bers, Jr.. SO West Seventy first street
Ensign Harold a. Ball, Wayne, Penn
No. 129-Ensign Maclear Jacoby, 3!
Claremont Avenue, New York City
Ensign Bert F. Hiscock, West Palm
Beach, Fla.
UNIT C.
Captain Charles P. Nelson, Phila
delphia. Penn.
No. 95-Leutenant Leon Clemmer
Philadelphia, Penn: Ensign George
Ieevy. Jr.. Coronado, Cal; Ensign
Shirley D. Murphy, Tampa, Fla.
No 179-Ensign Erskine Hazard
Richmond, Va; Ensign Eugene
Moore, Lake City, S. c.
No. 333-EnsigT John NJ. Beverly
Ensign Thomas T. Bissell, Albany, n
Y.
| UNIT Fl.
No. 13O-Ensign Henry R. Damn
1.119 Clay Avenue, Bronx, N. Y.
Ensign Otis T. Russell, Dedhan
Mass.
No. 337-Ensign Andrew j. Kelley
, Buffalo \, y; Ensign Coiumbu
D. Smith, Atlanta, Ga.
No. S24-Lieutenant Clifford V
Eshon, Meriden, Kan; Ensign Charlie
E. Collins, New Haven, Conn.
: UNIT D.
! No. 225-Lieutenant Elmer J, Nc
C1uen. Oakland, Cal; Lieutenan
/ Joseph L. Day, Portland, Mo.
!, No. 327-Ensign Walter P. Gros
( znann, Bayside, L. l.; Ensign job
B. Stanchfeld, Jr., Islip, L. I.