Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-05-14
BY JosEPHUs DANIELS,
Former Secretary of the Navy
1913 to 1921

1919 TO 1871
Making it's way across the North
Atlantic, a convoy of troopships was
still nearly 500 miles from land when
a fledgling army officer who was
making his first trip across remark
ed: "All you can hear about nova
days is the navy; the navy this, the
navy that; but as far as I can see,
the navy is not doing much in this
war"
One of the civilians in the party
rose to his feet, pulled out his watch
and said: "In ten minutes six Unit
ed States destroyers will meet this
convoy"
WHAT are you talking about?" said
the officer; how do you know?"
Well" returned the civilian, cit
AIS p. M, and they will be here"
The party went out on the deck to
watch, and to the minute, at 4:15,
there hove in sight six destroyers.
Swinging into line on each side Of
the convoy, the saucy little vessels,
ieaV1ng foam and spray from bow
TO stern, spanked along through the
heavy seas.
Good heavens" exclaimed the of
ficer, eff these little destroyers can
come 500 miles to sea in any kind
of weather, keep their schedule and
AOC1lC SOlINOy Oll Tie uOI, l. Will
believe anything I hear regarding the
navy"
Backbone of Convoy System
That story was told me by a man
who was on that transport and moth
ing could better illustrate the eff
of the sea. They went out and stay
ed out in all kinds of weather,
performing their duties in sun and
storm, guarding troopships and cargo
transports, liners and merchant YES
sels-keeping open the sea lanes for
the flow of troops, munitions and
commerce. They were the backbone
Of the convoy system, for they were
the escort through the danger zone.
The deadliest foe of the subma-
rfne, the very presence of destroyers
was usually sufficient cause for the
U-boat to submerge and scurry away.
For every submarine encounter there
were a score of submarine avoid
ances. Yet our destroyers in Euro
pean waters were credited with 256
attacks on U-boats, and there were
not a few exciting encounters.
In all the annals of the war there
is no more striking example of
prompt action and quick results than
that Of the Tanning and Nicholson
on November II, 1917.
Gets Glimpse of Per1scope
These destroyers were escorting a
convoy in British waters when at
4:10 p. n Coaxswain LOOMS, look
out on the Tanning, caught the CLINT
of periscope. 1t was a finger per-
a half in diameter no larger than
walking stick. 1t was lifted fer
only few seconds, but the keen eyes
of LOOMS caught glimpse of it,
pnd he estimated it's distance and To-
cation-three points on the port bow,
Jfcfo y;orr l.
bow at two knots speed.
The Tanning headed for the spot
full speed, and as it crossed the
course dropped a depth bomb. The
Nicholson changed course and was
dashing across to drop another
the submarine appeared. The Mich
olson headed for the submarine full
speed and the Tanning turned in her
wake to attack. The Nicholson drop
ped a depth charge along side the
. boat and turned, firing from her
stern gun. The subs bow came VI
rapidly. She seemed to be down by
the stern and was evidently damaged
but tried to right herself and in
creased her speed. AS the Nicholson
cleared the Tanning opened fire with
her bow gun. At the third shot the
up their hands. At 4:28 the subma,
rine surrendered. It had been only
eighteen minutes since LOOMS haC
| sighted her periscope.
Scutt1e Surrendered Boat
The destroyers got a line to the
crippled craft. preparing to take it ir
tow. But two of her crew disap
peared for moment. They scuttleG
the boat. AS it sank the Germans
jumped into the water and swan fol
the Tanning. Heaving lines were
| thrown to them, and all but one man
aged to get aboard. When it was
seen that he was sinking, two of The
Fanning's men, Chief Pharmacist!
Mate ElZer Harwell and Coxswair
Francis G. Conner, jumped over
board to rescue him. They got hin
aboard the Tanning, but in spite O.
all efforts to resuscitate him h.
died.
The Germans were given hot cot
fee, sandwiches and cigarettes. Mel
of the Tanning loaned their warn
clothing, and no prisoners were eve
the boats that were to take then
ashore they cheered the Tanning an,
it's ere VS..
This was one case in which tn
authorities could not throw doub
slightly damaged" or "possibl,
that that submarine. the U-58. ha.
gone to Davy Jones' locker. An
the prisoners were glad enough t
escape with their lives.
The O'Brien, Trippe, Warrington
Jenkins, WadsWorth, Cumming
Wilkes, Benham, Parker, Jaco