CHAPTER XII
ACROSS THE ATLANTIC
The first contingent of American troops to cross the Atlantic to taketheir 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 Americantorpedo boats destroyers, cruisers and other ships of war. These werein sufficient number, American and British naval authorities believed,to protect the transports should they be attacked by Germansubmarines.
The transports themselves carried big guns fore and aft and were soequipped as to be able to give a good account of themselves shouldoccasion arise; and as the voyage progressed a sharp lookout was keptaboard every vessel of' the flotilla, that a submarine might not comeunheralded within striking distance of the transports or their convoy.
Much to the disappointment of Jack and Frank, they did not sail withthe first section of the American troops; nor did they find themselveswith the second. In fact, it seemed to both lads that they were to bedenied the honor of the trip altogether. But in this belief they werewrong.
The British cruiser Lawrence, under command of Lord Hastings, with Jackas first officer and Frank the third in command, was ordered forth froma Canadian port as one of the convoy for the third section.
American troops were being transported to France by this northern routebecause naval authorities believed the route was less likely to beinfested with German submarines. The channel was well defined and wellprotected. Thus, the American navy department had little fear that thetroops would be landed safely.
It was a clear morning in May that the flotilla put to sea. Thesailing was without ostentation, though the population of the port wasaware that the start was being made. However, the sailing was keptsecret from the rest of the world--even from the United States,except the naval authorities--for the navy department was doingeverything possible to prevent word of the sailing from reaching theenemy.
But for this fact it is highly probable that the first contingent ofAmerican troops would not have reached France safely, or at least withmore danger than attended their crossing, for the United States at thattime was infested with German spies, who, through secret channels--viaArgentina and Sweden, as it developed later--were able to flashtheir discoveries to the Imperial German government in Berlin.
There was no demonstration, then--such as had attended sailing ofsimilar expeditions when Uncle Sam went to war--in the Canadian citythe troops had just left. The city went about its business as thoughnothing out of the ordinary was going on.
The last of the troops had been ordered aboard the transports the nightbefore and assigned to quarters. Therefore, some of the men were stillasleep in their bunks when the flotilla lifted anchor and put to sea.
There were five transports filled with American soldiers. Threecruisers and a pair of torpedo boat destroyers showed the way. Strungout on either side of the transports, which proceeded singly one behindthe other, were two cruisers and as many of the smaller craft. A pairof American cruisers brought up the rear. Altogether, it was aformidable armada that steamed swiftly across the Atlantic.
The Lawrence, aboard which Jack and Frank served as officers, had beenassigned a post of honor in the first line. To port was the destroyerHalifax. To starboard was nothing but the expanse of the ocean. TheLawrence was on the end of the first line.
The first day passed quietly. The ships of war were all stripped foraction and the men stood to their posts during the long day. There waslittle probability that a German submarine lurked so close to NorthAmerican shores, but the American and British commanders were taking nochances.
Frank, appearing to relieve Jack on the bridge at eight bells thatevening, smiled.
"Guess there will be no excitement on this voyage," he said to hisfriend.
Jack shrugged his shoulders.
"Hard to tell," he replied. "However, I don't anticipate any troubleuntil 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 dayout, however, saw the allied American and British convoy in action.
Jack held the bridge at the time. Frank and Lord Hastings were below inthe latter's cabin. Jack was gazing straight ahead.
Suddenly there was a crash-crash of heavy, guns as the starboard turretforward aboard the Lawrence poured forth a salvo. Jack wheeled aboutsuddenly. Across the sea he made out what he felt sure was a periscopeof 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 theirinstructions when the voyage began, and they were still effective.
Jack took command now, pending the arrival of Lord Hastings from hiscabin below. At the same moment a second and a third periscope, stillsome distance away, came into view.
"Aft, there!" cried Jack, and the batteries in the stern opened uponthe submarines.
Jack signaled the engine room for full speed ahead and at a word to thehelmsman the Lawrence swung sharply and headed for the nest ofsubmarines.
Lord Hastings appeared on deck at this moment, closely followed byFrank. The commander of the Lawrence took in the situation at aglance.
"Wireless the two cruisers to keep position," he shouted to Frank."Order the destroyers to follow us. There may be more of the enemy toport," he explained.
Frank passed the word and the fourth officer dashed for the wirelessroom.
A moment later the two cruisers to port, which had swerved with theapparent intention of following the Lawrence toward the foe, swung backinto position, as did the vessels that guarded the transports on theport side. The two destroyers, however, veered sharply and dashedafter the Lawrence.
Again, at Lord Hastings' command, the three cruisers protecting thetransports to starboard also remained in line. This, Lord Hastingsexplained later, he had deemed advisable because a submarine might havepushed a torpedo through to a transport had they moved out of line.
One of the cruisers making up the rear guard, however, the Americancruiser Huron, dashed toward the submarines.
And now it became apparent that there were not only three submarines tocontend, with--there were at least five or six. The flotilla had runinto a veritable nest of the undersea terrors.
The submarines now rose to the surface and launched torpedoes. Thedistance was still great, however, and none of them found its mark.
In the meantime the guns aboard the two cruisers rumbled as they boredown on the foe, and the destroyers, not far behind, added their voicesto the conflict.
Lord Hastings, as he took command of the situation, realized that Jackhad acted with promptness upon the discovery of the foe and hecommended the lad with a nod of his head.
Suddenly there came a cry of triumph from the forward turret aboard theLawrence. A British shell had struck squarely aboard the nearestsubmersible. 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 tostarboard--and a torpedo from the nearest submarine flashed byharmlessly.
"Pretty close, though," Frank muttered.
It had been close, and had it not been for the prompt action of LordHastings in maneuvering the vessel out of harm's way, the Lawrencewould have received a death blow.
Before the submarine could launch a second torpedo, a shell from theHuron struck her squarely amidships. A moment later the secondsubmarine 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 stillfour of the submarines in action. This was a formidable number indeed,and Lord Hastings re
alized that it would take quick and decisive actionif they were to be disposed of before severe injury could be inflictedupon the British and American ships.
He turned to Frank. "Order the Sandusky to our assistance!" hecommanded.
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 inthe line and dashed forward.
"Now we'll get 'em!" cried Frank.
Boy Allies with Uncle Sam's Cruisers Page 12