The "O Q 17" and the "H S 14" form an illustration of convoys which made their trips successfully. Yet these same destroyers had another experience which pictures other phases of the convoy system.
On the morning of October 19th, Commander Johnson's division was escorting a great convoy of British ships on its way to the east coast of England. Suddenly out of the air came one of those calls which were daily occurrences in the submarine zone. The J. L. Luckenback signalled her position, ninety miles ahead of the convoy, and that she was being shelled by a submarine. In a few minutes the Nicholson, one of the destroyers of the escort, started to the rescue. For the next few hours our ships began to pick out of the air the messages which detailed the progress of this adventure—messages which tell the story so graphically, and which are so typical of the events which were constantly taking place in those waters, that I reproduce them verbatim:
8.50 A.M. S.O.S. J. L. Luckenback being gunned by submarine. Position 48.08 N 9.31 W.
9.25 Conyngham to Nicholson: Proceed to assistance of S.O.S. ship.
9.30 Luckenback to U.S.A.: Am manœuvring around.
9.35 Luckenback to U.S.A.: How far are you away?
9.40 Luckenback to U.S.A.: Code books thrown overboard. How soon will you arrive?
Nicholson to Luckenback: In two hours.
9.41 Luckenback to U.S.A.: Look for boats. They are shelling us.
Nicholson to Luckenback: Do not surrender!