Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-05-12
BY JoSEPHUs DANIELS,
Former Secretary of the Navy.

By JOSEPHUS DANIELS,
Former Secretary of the Navy.
ARTICLE 27.
Making its way across the North
e Atlantic, a convoy of troopships was
still nearly 500 miles from land when
a fedgling Army officer who was
making his first trip across re-
marked: "All you can hear about
nowadays 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 United
States destroyers will meet this con-
voy."
What are you talking about?" said
the officer; how do you know?"
well" returned the civilian, 'ft is
now 4:O5 O'Clock. The destroyers are
ordered to meet this convoy at AIS
p. m, and they will be here"
The party went out on deck to watch.
and to the minute, az 4;15 there hove
in sight six destroyers. Swinging into
line one 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,
eff these little destroyers can come 500
!. miles TO sea in any kind Of weather, keep
Afheir schedule and locate a convoy on
Pthe dot. I Will believe anything I hear
regarding the Navy
BACKBONE OF
CONVOY SYSTEM
That story was told me by man who
was on that transport, and nothing could
better illustrate the efficiency of these
splendid greyhounds OF the sea. They
went out and stayed out in all kinds Of
weather, performing their duties in sun
and storm, guarding troopships and
cargo transports, liners ana merchant
Vessels-keeping open the sea lanes for
the flow OF troops, munitions and com
= merce.--They We're the backbone of the
convoy system, for they were the escort
through the danger zone
The deadliest foe Of the submarine the
very presence of destroyers was usually
sufficient cause for the U-boat to sub
merge and scurry away. For every sub
marine encounter there were a score Of
submarine avOtdances. Yet our destroy
ers in European waters were credited
with 256 attacks of 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 ac-
non and quick results than that Of the
flaming and Nicholson on Nov. II. 1917.
GETS GLIMPSE
OF PERIsCOPE.
These destroyers were escorting a con-
Foy in British waters when at 10 D. m
B Coxsvain LOOmis, lookout on the Fan
ming, caught the CLINT Of a periscope. 1t
was a bnser periscope, a tiny thing only
an inch and a half in diameter, no larger
than walking stick. II was lifted for
only few seconds, but the keen eyes IF
LoOmis caught a glimpse of IT. and he
estimated its distance and locatiCu-three
points on the port bow, 400 yards dis
tant, moving across the 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
tower Of the submarine appeared. The
Nichalson headed for the submarine full
speed and the Tanning turned in her
wake to attack. The Nicholson dropped a
depth charge alongside the U-bOat and
turned, firing from her stern gun The
subs bow came up rapidly. She seemed
TO be down by the stern and was evi-
IDENTIFY damaged, but tried to right her
self and increased her speed As the
Nicholson cleared the Fanning opened
IRE with her bow gun. At the third shot
the German crew came on deck and held
up their hands At :2S the submarine
surrendered. 1t had been only eighteen
minutes since LoOmis had sighted the
periscope.
SURRENDERED
BOAT sCUTTLED.
The destroyers got a line to the Grip
pied craft, preparing to take It i'm tow
Bat two Of her crew disappeared for a
moment. They scuttled the boat As II
sang 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 it
was seen that he was sinking two Of
tAe Fanning's men. Chief Pharmacists
Mate ElZer HarweIl and COxswain
Francis G. COnnOr, jumped overheard to
rescue him. They got him aboard the
Fanning, but in spite Of all efforts to
resuscitate him he died.
The Germans were given hot coffee.
sandwiches and cigarettes. Men Of the
flaming loaned their warmk clothing,
and no prisoners were ever better treated.
When they were in the boats that were
20 take them ashore they cheered the
Tanning and its crews
This was one case in which the au-
thorities could not throw doubt on it
by any dubious credit of slightly dam
aged" or possibly sunk" There was
no doubt whatever that that submarine.
the U-5S, had gone to Davy Jones
locker. And the prisoners were glad
enough to escape with their lives
The o'Brien, TIippe, Warrington. Jen-
kins. Wadsworth, Cummings. Wilkes,
Bsnham, Parker, Jacob Jones, McDOugal,
Continued on Page Nine)