SUBMARINE WARFARE.

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 3340, 8 September 1917, Page 3

SUBMARINE WARFARE.

U-BOATS ATTACK FLEET OF MEB-

CHANTMEN.

(Received September 8, 10.50 a.m.) NeAv York, September ,7.

The Tribune says' four merchantmen have arrived at an Atlantic port, the officers of which stated that a fleet of 22 Allied merchantmen, sading to America, Avere attacked in clear weather. Suddenly tAVo periscopes Avere sighted, one each side of the fleet. The U-boats immediately launched torpedoes, one of Avhich struck the merchant flagship and she sank within an hour. Another torpedo hit the stern of a second merchantman, Avhich sank in half an hour. The other merchantmen opened fire and quickly sank the first pair of U-boats, Avhereupon live other submarines emerged and launched torpedoes, quickly submerging as the merchantmen bred. Tho officers say positively that one of these U-boats Avas sunk. Tavo additional merchantmen avcic struck and sunk. A wireless message brought destroyers to the assistance of the merchantmen, Avhich were convoyed back, and later sailed singly for America.