The Pensacola journal., 1920-02-29

s. June 80. 1918, two squadrons of
a.artcan chasers, comprising thirty
boats, had assembled at Plymouth,
E--rard. under the command of Cap
a LYMAN A. Gotten, L. S. y. The
$. destroyer Parker, commanded
Commander Wilson Brown, had
zen assigned to this detachment as
supporting ship. This area which
rr formed the new field Of operations
as one which was causing great anx-
~ al that time. 1t comprehended
action OF the Channel which reached
1n start Point to Lizard Head, and
rded such important shipping
-s as Plymouth, Devonport and
mouth This was the region in
-a The conveys, after having been
7-ted through the submarine zone,
re broken up. and from which the
r.dual ships were obliged to find
s.- way to their destinations with
s2-iy diminished protection. II was
of the sections IN which. as de-
.hed above, the Germans, forced to
sndon their submarine campaign on
high seas, were now actively con-
l-tratiur their efforts.
Work Of Captain cotten's Ships.
-r-il the arrival OF the subchasers
lugs had been taking place in
SO waters on a considerable scale.
II company with a number of British
etug units. Captain Cotten's detach-
n, kept steadily at work from June
Ia until the middle Of August, when
/ became necessary to send IL else
ere. The historical fact is that not
single merchant ship was sunk be-
raeu Lizard Head and Start Point
-3 as long as these subchasers were
ss-sting IN the operations. The one
-k,Hg which at first seemed to have
r9ken this splendid record was that
the Stockforce; this merchantmen
as destroyed off Dartm outh, but it
as presently announced that the
R.ocktorCs was in reality a mystery
NJ 1lp sent out for the express purpose
being torpedoed, and that she got
submarine which ended her own
Eeer. This happening therefore
rdly dctracted from our general
a;Siaction over the work done by our
Le vessels. Since many ships had
zen sunk IN this area in the month
1Augs started IN again after they
. the immunity which this region
Aioyed during July and August may
operly be attributed largely to the
1erican Navy
Not only were no bona fide mer-
ant ships destroyed, but no mines
ere laid from Start Point to Lizard
cad during the time that the Ameri
N forces maintained their vigil there
nat this again was probably not a
ere coincidence was shown by the
et that the very night after these
-ssers were withdrawn from Ply
0l'n' five mines were laid IN front OF
a. harbor, IN preparation for a large
'''oy scheduled to sail the next day,
Fighting in Threes.
'y the time that Captain Cotten's
,-aoron began work, the hunting tao
'hat had been developed during
81 training at New London had been
~Sderably improved. Their proceed
represented something entirely new
naval warfare. Since the chasers
II 10 depend for the detection OF
Zoe upon an agency Of so uncertain
essary as a safeguard against err
ana also to increase the chances
successful attack, that they should
III In groups of at least three
ne fight against the submarine
Ter this new system, was divided
three parts-the search, the pur-
~r and the attack. The first cnap-
included those weary hours which
little group spent drifting on the
van tae lookout in the crows nest
%"hns the surface for the possible
-"pse Of n periscope, while the
~"e0 listeners on deck with strange
g instruments, which somewhat re
'-.0.e lelephone receivers, glued tC
wy ears. kept constantly at lensio,
1"F noise which might nanifes
under water. 1t was impossible
$50 these listening devices while
.'a'S We're under way, for th'
,.. 2i their own propellers anc
'."'F would drown out any othe
'a ices The three little vessels
'." drtited abreast-at a distanc'
-. "'-l" or two apart-their propel
.'F'ly moving, and the. decks al
r; the grave; they formed new
ma Ashng expedition, the officer:
r,. '"S constantly held taut by tn,
ns.. '"'NS of bite" And fre.