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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Diary of Commander Joseph K. Taussig, Commander, Destroyer Division Eight

 

Monday

Aug 6-

Berehaven

and

at sea

     Yesterday (Sunday) was an uneventful day excepting for the receipt of a wireless message from the Vice Admiral at Queenstown1 stating that the convoy was 42 4hr hours later and suggesting the destroyer escort put into Berehaven to refuel and to start afresh. I complied with the suggestion and directed the destroyers proceed to Berehaven. It was an all night run for us at 18 knots until daylight and then 22 knots. We arrived at Berehaven at 8:30 am G.M.T. and immediately refueled. Captain Price, Fairfield, and Hutchins2 came on board for a few minutes. Received order to sail at 9 p.m. B.S.T. (8 P.M. [G].M.T.) so authorized ships to give liberty until 6 p.m. After lunch I went on board the Parker to see Halsey Powell.3 It was the first time I had seen him since his arrival on this side, and I wished to thank him for bringing me a letter from Lulie.4 It looks as if the Parker sank a submarine a few days ago. They saw the sub on the surface ran over to where it submerged, found its wake, and after running along it for a short distance passed directly over the submarine, the vessel itself being distinctly seen by the people on the bridge of the Parker. Two depth charges were let go, and large quantities of oil and some debris came to the surface.5

     From the Parker I went to Dixie and called on Captain Price. Courtney6 was there also Received word that the convoy was due at the destroyer rendezvous at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow. So I sent signal to all destroyer to sail at 6:30 p.m. instead of 9 p.m. I returned on board the Wadsworth, wrote a letter to Lulie, and then went ashore for a walk with Courtney and Fairfield. Returned on board at six, got up anchor at 6:30 and stood out to sea. Steamed at 20 knots until we ran into a rain squall and then slowed to 18 knots. This speed was necessary in order to reach rendezvous at 11 a.m.7

Source Note: D, RNW, Joseph Taussig Papers, Mss. Coll. 97. The diary is written on ruled paper with a vertical line one inch in along the left margin. The place and date is written in that space. It is sometimes repeated when the diary entry continues on second and third pages.

Footnote 1: VAdm. Sir Lewis Bayly, Commander, Southern Ireland.

Footnote 2: Cmdr. Henry B. Price, Commander, Dixie, Lt. Cmdr. Arthur P. Fairfield, Commander, McDougal, Cmdr. Charles T. Hutchins, Jr., Commander, Ericsson.

Footnote 3: Lt. Halsey Powell, Commnader, Parker.

Footnote 4: Lulie Taussig.

Footnote 5: There is no evidence that the submarine was sunk. See: Halsey Powell to Sims, 5 August 1917.

Footnote 6: Lt. Cmdr. Charles E. Courtney, Commander, Destroyer Division Nine.

Footnote 7: For more on the rendezvous, see, Taussig Diary, 7 August 1917, RNW, Joseph Taussig Papers, Mss. Coll. 97.