The New York herald., 1921-06-22
TWO SALVOS ARE USED
Commander of E-2, From
Which U-117 Escaped in
War, Sees Craft Sink.
PLANE DROPS 5000 FEET
Army Filler Rescued and His
Machine Salvaged-DestrOy-
er Tests To-day.

Special Despatch to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
WITH THE ATLANTIC FLEET OFF TIE
VIRGINIA CAPEs, June 21.-Three United
States Navy seaplanes sent the Ger
man submarine U-117 to the bottom
Of the sea to-day by firing twelve
thin-wal sombs from an altitude OF
1,100 feet. Two salvos, one of three
bombs and the second of nine, were
required. The submarine sank in fif-
teen minutes.
This was the first Of the series OF
Navy tests, in which the Army is CO.
operating, to determine the relative
valuessof aircraft and Navy vessels, in
which ten of the German vessels
awarded to the United States after
the war are to be demolished by vari-
Gus sorts of fire. The entire Atlantic
fleet stood by to watch the perform
ance.
The first of eight divisions OF navy
aircraft - with further sluadrons OF
army airplanes in readiness at Langley
Field-accomplished the sinking with a
remarkable show of skill in the drop
HJliS Ol the DOInDS. Inc ease WIN which
the U-117 fell victim to the onslaught
astonished evenethe most conservative OF
the officers of the fleet
The first three bombs failed to hit the
submarine, although they came suff-
ciently close to do much damage with the
explosions below the water line. They
completely straddled the craft, one hit
ting off the bow, one astern and the
other amidships on the starboard side.
The submarine settled some as a result,
but observers doubt if the leaks devel-
poed would have been sufficient to sink
her.
Direct Hits Are Made.
The second salvo came nine minutes
later, when not less than two and pos
sibly three of the nine bombs made di-
rect hits. Exactly six minutes afterward
the giant submarine, which had been one
of the finest in the German navy, broke
in two and with a shudder sank below
the surface of the water.
Even before the swell had subsided an
accident occurred to an army airplane
that with several other observation ma
chimes had been soaring over the scene
Of the bombing. The motor of an S-E-35
single scatter airplane, ploted by Lieut.
Col. c. C. Culver. in charge OF the radio
section of the army air service, stalled
was forced to a landing in the water.
One of the navy planes resting in the
water for duty as a despatch craft picked
up Col. Culver five minutes. later, wet,
but no worse for his experience. The
army airpane was rescued. The Incl
dent gave double climax to twenty
minutes OF thrills.
The sinking of the U-117 was mat
ter of sweet revenge for the United States
Navy. Three summers ago this German
craft. on a raiding mission to American
shores, had an encounter with a United
States submarine, the E-2, but managed
Go get away by diving. Lieut.. l.. F.
Reifsnider, who had commanded the E-2
at the time, stood on the bridge OF the
observation ship, the navy transport
Henderson, and watched the operations.
Strangely enough. the encounter had oc-
Cured only about 100 miles away.
Weather conditions were ideal for the
beginning of the tests. The sea was
cam and there was a warm breeze from
the southwest, just enough to clear away
the smoke from the stacks of the vessels
of the fleet The sun was shining
brightly and a few light clouds ambled
along lazily on the horizon.
Tests OF Virginia Cnpes.
The sinking occurred about sixty-five
miles from shore off the Virginia Capes,
twenty miles beyond the anchorage east
of north from Cape Charles light. The
submarine was at anchor, in the custody
Of group of destroyers, when the bat
tleships arrived shortly before o'clock.
1t was an impressive line of battle
ships that went out for the execution Of
this one German outlaw craft The
transport Henderson. which had come
from Washington with some members of
Congress and specially invited guests
aboard, including the naval attaches OF
different foreign Governments accom-
panied them. in a position of honor. just
ahead of the battleship Pennsylvania.
flagship of the Atlantic fleet. upon whose
bridge stood Vice-Admiral II. r. Jones,
in charge of the operations
The Arizona led the line: the Okla