Evening star., 1921-05-12
BY JOSEPHUS DANIELS,
Former Secretary Of the Navy.
ARTICLE IS.

Making its way across the North
Atlantic. a convoy of troopships was
still nearly 500 miles from land. when
fiedgIing Army officer who was
making his first trip across remarked:
"All YOU can hear about nowadays is
the Navy: the Navy this. the Navy
that, but as far as l 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 United States
destroters Will meet this convoy"
What are you talking about said
the officer: 'how do you Know
Well" returned the civilian. sit is
now 4:05 O'Clock. The deStroyers are
ordered to meet this convoy at 4:io
pm. and they will be here
The party went out on deck to watch.
and to the minute. at AS. there hove
in sight six deStroyerS. Swinging INTO
line on each side of the convoy. the
saucy little vessels. heaving foam and
spray from bow to stern. spanked
along through the heavy seas.
Good heavens" exclaimed the officer.
elf these little destroyers can come oOo
miles to sea in any kind of weather
keep their schedule and locate con-
voy on the dot / will believe anything
] 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 efh-
Cheney of these splendid greyhounds
Of the sea. They went out and stayed
out in all kinds of weather. perform
1ng their duties in sun and storm
guarding troopshipS and cargo trans
ports, liners and merchant vessels
keeping open the sea lanes for the
now of troops. munitions and COM
merce. They were the backbone or
the convoy system. for they were the
escort through the danger zone:
TIL deadliest foe of the submarine.
the very presence of destroyers was
usually sufficient cause for the C-boat
to submerge and scurry away. For
every submarine encounter there were
q score of submarine ayoidances. Yet
our deStroyers in European waters
were credited with 256 attacks on L
boats. and there were not a few eX-
citing 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. November
IL. 1917.
Gets Glimpse OF Periscope.
These destroyers were escorting a
convoy in British waters when at 4:l0
"
Tanning. caught CLINT Of peri
scope. 1t was a finger periscope, a
tiny thing only an inch and half in
diameter. no larger than a walking
stick. 1t was lifted for only few
seconds. but the keen eyes of I.oomis
caught glimpse of it. and he esti :
mated its distance and location-three
points on the port bow. 400 yards dis
tant. moving across the bow at two
knots speed.
lal far h.
full speed. and il crossed the course
dropped depth bomb. The Nichol-
son changed course and was dashing
across to drop another charge when
the coming tower of the submarine
appeared. The Nicholson headed for
the submarine full speed and the Fam
ming turned in her wake to attack.
The Nicholson dropped a depth charge
alongside the C-boat and ,turned. fir
ing from her stern gun. The subs
bow came up rapidly. She seemed to
he down by the stern and was evil
IDENTIFY damaged. but tried to right
herself and increased her speed. AS
the Nicholson cleared the Tanning
opened fire with her bow gun. At the
third shot the German crew came on
deck and held up their hands. At 4:2s
the submarine surrendered. 1t had
been only eighteen minutes since
Loomis had sighted her periscope.
Sruttle Surrendered Boat.
The destroyers got line TO the Grip
pied craft. preparing TO take it in tow
But two OF her crew disappeared for
moment They scuttled the boat. As it
sank the Germans jumped into the water
and swan for the Tanning. Heaving
lines were thrown to them. and all but
one managed to get aboard. When il was
seen that he was sinking. two Of the
Fanning's men. Chief Pharmacists Mate
Elzer Harwell and Coxswan Francis G.
Connor. jumped overheard to rescue him.
They got him aboard the Tanning. but