Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 99, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 May 1917 — U. S. DETSROYER FIGHTS U-BOAT [ARTICLE]

U. S. DETSROYER FIGHTS U-BOAT

Speed of Going Into Action Proves Surprise for British Flotilla In_. the War Zone.

Queenstown, May 16. —A squadron of American torpedo boat destroyers has crossed the Atlantic and is patroillling the seas in war service. The American navy’s entry already has been productive of a brush between a destroyer and a German underwater boat, according to an announcement by British admiralty, but the result of it hastoot been made public. The American naval authorities approve of the system adopted by the British admiralty as to concealing the number of U-boats captured or sunk and have adopted it in regard to the operations of the American warships. The American squadron arrived in Queenstown after an uneventful voyage across the Atlantic, but almost immediately after a formal exchange of greetings with the British naval officials put to sea again for the hard work that is before it. After the exchange of shore greetings and the British commander had congratulated the American officers on their safe voyage, he asked: “When will you be ready for business?” “We can start at once,” the American commander replied promptly. This response, so characteriistical 1 American, surprised the British commander, who said he had not expected the Americans would be ready to begin work on this side so soon after their Long voyage. -5“Yes,” repflied the American commander, “we made preparations on the way over. That is why we are ready.”