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 manoeuvring 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! _Luckenback_ to _Nicholson_ Never! 11.01 _Nicholson_ to _Luckenback_: Course south magnetic. 12.36 P.M. _Nicholson_ to _Conyngham_: Submarine submerged 47.47 N 10.00 W at 11.20. 1.23 _Conyngham_ to _Nicholson:_ What became of steamer? 3.41 _Nicholson_ to Admiral (at Queenstown) and _Conyngham_: _Luckenback_ now joining convoy. Should be able to make port unassisted.