GERMAN U-BOATS AND AMERICAN TRANSPORTS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 19 July 1917, Page 4

GERMAN U-BOATS AND AMERICAN TRANSPORTS.

It was mentioned in our cable columns yesterday that the Germans ad-, mitted the loss of four of their largest and latest submarines during the passage of the American transports to Europe and the following particulars from an American source will prove in--teresting.

The American report of the encounter claimed that one submarine was sunk and others possibly destroyed. None of the transports -were hit.

The New York Times states that the first attack was so swiftly made that everything was over before anyone, save the crews and officers of the warships, were aware of the peril. Phosphorus on the water enabled the lookout on a warship to discern the foaming wake of a submersible’s periscope. At the same moment an alarm was given. The submarine launched a torpedo in the direction of a large transport, in which 1000 soldiers were sleeping.

The correspondent interviewed a participant in the action, who said: “On our ship —a big Avarship —the helm jammed when avc were firing every available gun. We swung in a Avide circle from the line, and a small ship took our place. I belieA T e one of her shells landed directly above the submersible. The latter showed only a periscope. The submarine fired either three or four torpedoes towards the fleet of transports. All missed. 6ne passed near our stern. If the helm had not provideutally been jammed, it might have got us. The helm jamming caused our ship to drive directly toAvards the submarine. The submersible disappeared, possibly hit, or possibly it fled, fearing it would be rammed. “A second attack Avas made next morning. Every soul had been thrilled by the neAvs of the night encounter. The decks of all the Avarships and transports were crowded, the weather being fine and the sea calm, when at 10.30 a.m. a Avild yell from the leading transport announced a line of bubbles. The periscope was invisible. Again fortune, favoured us. The submarine being directly ahead, the commander ordered the gunners to fire where he judged the submersible Avas hidden. A column of smoke and foam shot 100 ft. upAvards. Soldiers on the nearest transport clearly distinguished pieces of wood and steel, also dark blue fragments, which a moment previous had been living Gormans. It avis impossible that there was any mistake. All the transports stnmed through tloi-t----ing oil and ,wr j CKage. ’'