CHAPTER V
DAVE TALKS OUT IN COUNCIL
There was much joy aboard a squadron of six more destroyers, justarrived from Uncle Sam's country, when, on steaming into port, theyheard the news of the capture.
So far as Dave was concerned the document that he had discovered,mutilated as it was, had supplied hints that filled the BritishAdmiralty and the American naval commander with deep apprehension.
Both Darrin and Dalzell were present in the crowded council room onboard the vice admiral's flagship. There were other American navalofficers, as well as a few American Army staff officers present. Theirfaces displayed anxiety.
"It is too bad," one of the American army staff officers declared, afterscanning the damaged sheet under a magnifying glass, "that so much ofthis is obliterated. Of course, Mr. Darrin, we know that you actedpromptly and that you did all in your power, and at considerable risk,to preserve this document. From the disconnected sentences that we candecipher, it would seem that at least sixty of the enemy's submarinesare to concentrate in near-by waters. It is also plain that theirmission is to destroy the convoy escort and sink the troopships that arenearing these waters--troopships that convey the entire One Hundred andSeventeenth Division of the United States Army."
"It would be a frightful disaster, if it came to pass," boomed the deeptones of a British naval officer.
"It shall not come to pass!" declared an American naval officer.
"Easily said, and I hope as easily done," replied the British officer."But you Americans have not yet begun to lose ships loaded with troops.We Britishers have had some sad experiences in that line. Never as yet,though, have we had to face a concentration of sixty enemy submarines!"
"The way it looks to me," said another American army staff officer,gravely, "is that, while the destroyer escort will surely sink some ofthe enemy submarines, yet just as surely, with the enemy in such force,will some of our troopships go to the bottom. It is mainly, as I viewit, a question of how many troopships we are likely to lose, and how biga loss of soldier life we shall suffer."
"Sixty submarines!" uttered a British naval officer, savagely. "Wehaven't an officer on a destroyer who wouldn't gladly go to the bottomif he could first have the pleasure of sinking a few of these deep-seapests!"
"A distressing feature is that we cannot decipher the very part of thisdocument which states where the submarine concentration is expected tostrike," declared a naval staff officer.
"How many British destroyers will be needed to reinforce the availableAmerican destroyers?" asked a British officer, apprehensively. "For wehave so many uses for our destroyers, on other work, that it isdifficult to guess where we are to find destroyers enough to help youAmericans."
This was known, by all present, to be only too true. The British Navy,from super-dreadnoughts to the smallest steam trawlers, was painfullyoverloaded with work.
"As Mr. Darrin is a destroyer commander with an uncommonly good recordto his credit," said an American naval staff officer, "and as we havenot yet heard his opinion, I think we would all like to have his views."
Dave Darrin glanced at the American naval commander, who sent him anencouraging nod.
"We know, then, gentlemen," began Dave, "just how many Americandestroyers are to act as escort to the troopship fleet that is bringingthe One Hundred and Seventeenth Division across. We know, also, just howmany destroyers under our flag can be taken from patrol duty tosafeguard the troopship fleet. We know the length of the sailing line ofthe troopship fleet; we know the speed of our destroyers. It seems to methat the answer is to be found in these known facts."
"What is your suggestion as to the plan, then?" asked an officer.
"Gentlemen, in the presence of so many officers of wider experience andgreater knowledge, I feel embarrassed to find myself speaking."
"Go on!" cried several.
Darrin still hesitated.
"First of all, Mr. Darrin, in offering your suggestion, tell us whatnumber of British destroyers you believe that you will need to reinforcethe American destroyers that are available for protecting your troopshipfleet," urged one.
Dave still hesitated, though not from shyness. He did some rapidcalculating as to the length of the line of troopships sailing in theregular order. Then he figured out how many destroyers could giveefficient protection against sixty German submarines.
There was tense silence in the council room. At last Darrin looked up.
"Well," demanded the insistent British naval staff officer, "how many ofour British destroyers do you think, Darrin, are needed to help out yourAmerican destroyers?"
Dave turned his face toward the American vice admiral.
"Sir, and gentlemen," he replied, "if we had three times as manydestroyers we could use them. I have an opinion on the subject, but itwill sound so childish to you that I should prefer to sit back and letolder heads offer suggestions."
"Darrin," spoke the flag lieutenant, after a nudge and a whispered wordfrom the vice admiral, "this is no question of age, nor is it wholly aquestion of experience. Demonstrated ability, ability backed by arecord, is entitled to a hearing here. You have done your figuring, andyou have reached certain conclusions. How many British destroyers do youbelieve we shall need to help out the American destroyer fleet that isnow available?"
This amounted almost to an order to speak up. Dave reddened perceptibly,opened his mouth as though to speak, closed it again, then cleared histhroat and called out steadily:
"Sir, and gentlemen, it is my opinion that the American naval forcesavailable for the work can do all the work! I do not believe that weneed an ounce of British help that would be so graciously extended if weasked for it!"
There was a moment's silence.
"No help needed from us?" demanded the British naval staff officer.
"It would be welcome, sir," Dave declared, "but you cannot spare thehelp. Whatever assistance you gave us at this time would weaken yourlines of defense or offense at some other point. They are Americansoldiers who are to be protected, and----"
Here Darrin's voice failed him for a moment. He felt as though the morethan score of pairs of eyes that were regarding him sharply were burninghim. He swallowed hard, but returned to the charge and went on, slowly,in words that rapped like machine-gun fire:
"I would stake my soul that the American Navy can safeguard the passageof the One Hundred and Seventeenth Division of the American Army!"
There was a gasp. The words were bold, but, if true, they solved avexing problem. The spirit of the United States Navy had spoken throughDave Darrin's lips.
"Darrin," shouted an American staff officer, bringing a fist down on thetable, then springing to his feet, "you've answered for us! You've givenus our chart. I'd trust the best troopship fleet we'll ever send overthe ocean to the guarding care of a dozen young Yankee naval commandersof your stripe."
In an instant the enthusiasm became infectious. A cheer arose, in whichthe vice admiral joined. The British naval officer of the booming tonesleft his seat and went over to grasp Dave's hand.
"Darrin, I wish we had you in our Navy!" he said, simply.
There was little more left to be agreed upon. It was decided, however,that a combined fleet of British and American patrol boats should be inreadiness to swoop down and save lives in case any of the Americantroopships should be torpedoed.
The council soon broke up. All that was now left to be done was for thevice admiral and his immediate staff to formulate the exact plans forthe protection of the One Hundred and Seventeenth Division. Even afterthe destroyer fleet had turned itself loose on its task, furtherinstructions could be sent in wireless code.
"Gentlemen," said the vice admiral, rising, "I thank you for yourattendance, for your consideration of the problem, and for whatever helpyou have been able to extend. And I can see no objection," he added, atwinkle in his eyes, "to your giving three cheers forLieutenant-Commander Darrin."
Proud? Not a bit. As the volleys of cheers rang out
deafeningly, DaveDarrin felt as though he would enjoy sinking through the deck.
But Danny Grin was there, and he undertook the job of feeling proud forhis chum.
Dave Darrin and the German Submarines Page 6
