Item 01: J. E. Morrison diary, 13 October 1917-29 October 1918 - Page 44
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[Page 44]
Japanese destroyers escorting. Speed 12 knots Zig Zag on account of the Royal Mail steamer Tagus being slow consequently Indarra steaming ½ speed throughout. Dirigible flying & leading the way for 10 miles with the assistance of 2 trawlers towing mine sweepers & 2 Italian destroyers.
10 miles off Taranto in the Gulf submarine reported near & as per usual floating mines & dummy pericopes. Troops all on deck with their life belts on. 2 Navy signalmen on duty on navigation bridge. A submarine sighted 30 miles out. Brittish destroyer Renard steamed full speed at same. 26 knots, 30 miles an hour.
Fired 30 rounds from 4 inch guns. Hit same then dropped 3 depth charges of T.N.T. Sunk submarine picked up 4 survivors which proved to be a Italian submarine which left under escort of trawlers & lost sight of same being on his own. He had no right to be in that locality so consequently the Brittish destroyer ran no risk & was justified in sinking same yet sad.
25th
Noon. 300 miles from Taranto. 10 am this morning 280 miles direct from Taranto S.O.S. Steamer War ___ sunk, cargo boat, by a submarine distance 55 miles from position of Indarra. Message picked up by wireless.