Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-31
BY CARL J. LALUMIA,
Associated Press Stan Writer.

UNITED STATES SUBMARINE
BASE, NEW LONDON, Conn. Dec. 9
Delayed Three naval officers told
today an adventurous story of how
single American submarine boldly
sank a destroyer and eight other
ships, some Of them so close to jap
anese territory that you could al
most spit on the coast"
The activities of the underwater
fighter, the three related, cost the
Japanese more than 10000 tons in
ships and several hundred lives. 1t
cost the submarine and her crew
only one life but many tense,
anxious days of narrow escapes from
enemy ships and planes which
ralned shells and depth charges on
them.
The submarine eXacted such a
heavy toll that one of the officers,
Lit. Slade Cutter of OsWego, ILL.,, fig
ured that even if they get us before
this war Is over, we're so far ahead
of the Japanese now that they'll
never catch up"
And that's very gratifying" en-
phasized 1t. Cutter, a football and
boxing star at Annapolis several
years ago.
Skipper Twice Decorated.
He and 1t. q. g. Ralph F. Pleat-
man. 25, of Cincinnati we're with the
submarine in all of the engagements.
The third member of the three, 1t.
Cnl16r 7 puic Do 1f
ton. Del, was in command when she
sank six of the ships.
For that record the skipper was
twice decorated-first getting the
Navy Cross and later a gold star,
the equivalent of another Navy
Cross.
Except to interject one or two re-
marks, Comdr. Parks left it to these
two officers to tell their crafts ex-
ploits from the day, early in the war,
when her crew first experienced the
thrill of sinking ship and the awe
some shock of depth attack, until
months later when the submarine
slipped away for home from the very
entrance of Toxic Bay.
The sub got her first target in the
Southwest Pacific, a big japanese
transport. to which were added later
a destroyer, two patrol boats, two
tankers, an interisland ship, a trawl-
er and freighter.
The submarine had been ordered
to reconnoiter an island in prepara-
ton for an American raid that was
to follow days later. For five days,
the sub made careful observations
as her crew, itching for action, saw
small ships leave the shelter of a
lagoon. All of them were perfect
targets.
Waited For Big Ones.
But the skipper let them all go
by said 1t. Cutter a bit wistfullv,
figuring that there must be some
big ones in that lagoon. Then on
the fifth day, big baby came out,
transport"
Four torpedoes sank the transport.
From then on, there was con-
siderable anti-submarine activity in
that area" 1t. Cutter recalled with
reminiscent smile.
What does a depth charge feel
like? Well, for one thing, it's very,
very loud; terribly loud. 1t shakes
you up badly.
But while it was our first expe-
rlence with depth charges. there was
no hysteria among the men. They
continued to smoke and drink coffee.
Some laughed and joked - in a
strained sort of way, of course"
After slipping away. the subma-
rine sighted freighter and a de-
stroyer off the coast. Two tor
pedos, one for each craft sent both
to the bottom.
That apparently didn't set so we'll
with the japanese. Planes and de-
stroyers sped to the scene in search
of the submarine.
Crew Mad at Japs.
Once again the craft came
through. Her crew was full of fight
and soon proved it. sighting an
armed patrol ship. Certain condi-
tions-what they were exactly must
remain secret-raised some doubt
q" w "hCOiCA tiic SuU SllCulQ I1Sk
another encounter.
But the boys" related 1t. Cut
ter. were anxious for a little more
action. They were a bit mad at the
Japs for the way they had treated
U.S."
They surfaced and attacked, and
the Japanese paid with another
ship for "inhospitality' at Toxic
Bay.
1t was In that gun engagement