ACROSS THE ATLANTIC
The first contingent of American troops to cross the Atlantic to take
their places on the firing line sailed in three divisions.
Approximately 225,000 troops comprised the contingent.
The transports, on their voyage, were convoyed by British and American
torpedo boats destroyers, cruisers and other ships of war. These were
in sufficient number, American and British naval authorities believed,
to protect the transports should they be attacked by German
submarines.
The transports themselves carried big guns fore and aft and were so
equipped as to be able to give a good account of themselves should
occasion arise; and as the voyage progressed a sharp lookout was kept
aboard every vessel of' the flotilla, that a submarine might not come
unheralded within striking distance of the transports or their convoy.
Much to the disappointment of Jack and Frank, they did not sail with
the first section of the American troops; nor did they find themselves
with the second. In fact, it seemed to both lads that they were to be
denied the honor of the trip altogether. But in this belief they were
wrong.
The British cruiser Lawrence, under command of Lord Hastings, with Jack
as first officer and Frank the third in command, was ordered forth from
a Canadian port as one of the convoy for the third section.
American troops were being transported to France by this northern route
because naval authorities believed the route was less likely to be
infested with German submarines. The channel was well defined and well
protected. Thus, the American navy department had little fear that the
troops would be landed safely.
It was a clear morning in May that the flotilla put to sea. The
sailing was without ostentation, though the population of the port was
aware that the start was being made. However, the sailing was kept
secret from the rest of the world--even from the United States,
except the naval authorities--for the navy department was doing
everything possible to prevent word of the sailing from reaching the
enemy.
But for this fact it is highly probable that the first contingent of
American troops would not have reached France safely, or at least with
more danger than attended their crossing, for the United States at that
time was infested with German spies, who, through secret channels--via
Argentina and Sweden, as it developed later--were able to flash
their discoveries to the Imperial German government in Berlin.
There was no demonstration, then--such as had attended sailing of
similar expeditions when Uncle Sam went to war--in the Canadian city
the troops had just left. The city went about its business as though
nothing out of the ordinary was going on.
The last of the troops had been ordered aboard the transports the night
before and assigned to quarters. Therefore, some of the men were still
asleep in their bunks when the flotilla lifted anchor and put to sea.
There were five transports filled with American soldiers. Three
cruisers and a pair of torpedo boat destroyers showed the way. Strung
out on either side of the transports, which proceeded singly one behind
the other, were two cruisers and as many of the smaller craft. A pair
of American cruisers brought up the rear. Altogether, it was a
formidable armada that steamed swiftly across the Atlantic.
The Lawrence, aboard which Jack and Frank served as officers, had been
assigned a post of honor in the first line. To port was the destroyer
Halifax. To starboard was nothing but the expanse of the ocean. The
Lawrence was on the end of the first line.
The first day passed quietly. The ships of war were all stripped for
action and the men stood to their posts during the long day. There was
little probability that a German submarine lurked so close to North
American shores, but the American and British commanders were taking no
chances.
Frank, appearing to relieve Jack on the bridge at eight bells that
evening, smiled.
"Guess there will be no excitement on this voyage," he said to his
friend.
Jack shrugged his shoulders.
"Hard to tell," he replied. "However, I don't anticipate any trouble
until we are near the coast of Ireland."
He went below without further words and turned in.
The second day passed quietly, and the third. Noon of the fourth day
out, however, saw the allied American and British convoy in action.
Jack held the bridge at the time. Frank and Lord Hastings were below in
the latter's cabin. Jack was gazing straight ahead.
Suddenly there was a crash-crash of heavy, guns as the starboard turret
forward aboard the Lawrence poured forth a salvo. Jack wheeled about
suddenly. Across the sea he made out what he felt sure was a periscope
of a German submarine.
At the same moment the forward starboard battery belched forth again.
The gunners had not waited for the word to fire. Such had been their
instructions when the voyage began, and they were still effective.
Jack took command now, pending the arrival of Lord Hastings from his
cabin below. At the same moment a second and a third periscope, still
some distance away, came into view.
"Aft, there!" cried Jack, and the batteries in the stern opened upon
the submarines.
Jack signaled the engine room for full speed ahead and at a word to the
helmsman the Lawrence swung sharply and headed for the nest of
submarines.
Lord Hastings appeared on deck at this moment, closely followed by
Frank. The commander of the Lawrence took in the situation at a
glance.
"Wireless the two cruisers to keep position," he shouted to Frank.
"Order the destroyers to follow us. There may be more of the enemy to
port," he explained.
Frank passed the word and the fourth officer dashed for the wireless
room.
A moment later the two cruisers to port, which had swerved with the
apparent intention of following the Lawrence toward the foe, swung back
into position, as did the vessels that guarded the transports on the
port side. The two destroyers, however, veered sharply and dashed
after the Lawrence.
Again, at Lord Hastings' command, the three cruisers protecting the
transports to starboard also remained in line. This, Lord Hastings
explained later, he had deemed advisable because a submarine might have
pushed a torpedo through to a transport had they moved out of line.
One of the cruisers making up the rear guard, however, the American
cruiser Huron, dashed toward the submarines.
And now it became apparent that there were not only three submarines to
contend, with--there were at least five or six. The flotilla had run
into a veritable nest of the undersea terrors.
The submarines now rose to the surface and launched torpedoes. The
distance was still great, however, and none of them found its mark.
In the meantime the guns aboard the two cruisers rumbled as they bore
down on the foe, and the destroyers, not far behind, added their voices
to the conflict.
Lord Hastings, as he took command of the situation, realized that Jack
had acted with promptness upon the discovery of the foe and he
commended the lad with a nod of his head.
Suddenly there came a cry of triumph from the forward turret aboard the
Lawrence. A British shell had struck squarely aboard the nearest
submersible. The little vessel seemed to fly into a thousand pieces.
A moment later it disappeared from sight.
A second mighty cheer rang out.
"It's not all over yet," said Jack grimly.
Frank, who overheard the words, nodded his assent.
At a quick command from Lord Hastings the Lawrence veered sharply to
starboard--and a torpedo from the nearest submarine flashed by
harmlessly.
"Pretty close, though," Frank muttered.
It had been close, and had it not been for the prompt action of Lord
Hastings in maneuvering the vessel out of harm's way, the Lawrence
would have received a death blow.
Before the submarine could launch a second torpedo, a shell from the
Huron struck her squarely amidships. A moment later the second
submarine disappeared beneath the water.
Again a combined British and American cheer rang out over the sea.
So far as those aboard the Lawrence could see now, there were still
four of the submarines in action. This was a formidable number indeed,
and Lord Hastings realized that it would take quick and decisive action
if they were to be disposed of before severe injury could be inflicted
upon the British and American ships.
He turned to Frank. "Order the Sandusky to our assistance!" he
commanded.
Frank dashed to the wireless room. A few moments later the Sandusky,
an American cruiser, which was one of the rear guard, left her place in
the line and dashed forward.
"Now we'll get 'em!" cried Frank.