The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-10-17
Marked Decline

SLlCG bIlG AIuGElCaIl AbluIlVIC pdUTOI was given orders to shoot on sight there has been Q marked decline in German sinkings in the North At lantic, according to both United States and British authorities. American and British merchantmen as well as those of other friendly na- tions, are being conveyed by Amer ican patrols as far as Iceland. From that island, ships enroute to Britain would have to be conveyed by the royal navy, which is enabled by the shortened line to concentrate more warships for this duty.
 Although the Kearney was the first United States warship to be damaged by hostile action in the At lantic since the war started, Afneri- can-owned merchant ships have not been SO fortunate. Three U. s. owned freighters carrying supplies to Iceland have been sunk in the waters between Greenland and Ice- land. The three ships were sailing under the Panamanian flag. They were the s. s. Sessa, on Aug. IT; the s. s. Montana, on Sept. Il, and the Pink Star, on Sept. 19. The Pink tar sinking occurred after MT. Roosevelt issued his shoot on- sight" orders.
 It might require considerable time for the navy to receive full details of the torpedoing. It was pointed out that the damage might cause the destroyer to reduce her speed.
 Tn such a case, 1t was considered unlikely that the Kearny would use her radio to any great extent during this period for fear of tipping off" her position and subjecting herself to further risk of attack.
 The Navy began checking the names and home addresses of the Kearny's crew. The list may not be available before tomorrow.
 Text of Announcement
 The text of the navy's announce ment follows:
 "The navy department announced that the U.S,S. Kearny, destroyer, was torpedoed this morning while on patrol duty about $50 miles south and west of Iceland.
 indicated in dispatches received bv
 No casualties to personnel was the navy department.
 Despite the damage received, the ship Is able to proceed under her own power.
 "The U.S.S. Kearny is under command of Lieut.. Com. A. L. Dan- IS, U. s. navy.
 "The ship Is one of the navy's newest destroyers. She was laid down in 1889 and completed in l940. This ship has a standard displace- ment of 1880 tons. The ship is 34l feet long and has Q 35-foot beam. She is armed with the standard g. inch battery of her class.
 NO other details are available to the navy department at this time."
 This was the first American war; ship to be hit while on Atlantic patrol duty in this war.
 On Sept. {, the U.S.S. Greer, an- other destroyer, was fired upon by a submarine twice.
 All of the torpedoes missed. The Greer counter attacked with depth bombs, but apparently unsuccess- fully.
 The navy's announcement did not state the port toward which the Kearney is proceeding, nor did 1t indicate whether she required as- sistance.
 The Kearny was hit far from the area in which the Greer episode occurred.
 Danis, skipper of the injured craft, Is Q native of Washington, DC.
 Is Lucky Again
 Washington, Oct. 1T. - (UP) - Lieut.. Cmdr. A. L. Danis, skipper of the torpedoed destroyer U. s. s. Kearny, is a survivor of the crash of the navy dirigible Macon in the Pacific on Feb. 12, 1885.
 Danis, @ native of this city, is 42 He was graduated from the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md, in 1918 and served aboard another dirigible the Akron. But he was not aboard he when she cashed of the New Jersey coast.
 He has commanded the Kearny since it was placed in sevice in 194O.