UNITED STATES ATLANTIC FLEET
                    SUPPORT FRANCE
                      U.S.S. PRAIRIE, Flagship
     
                                   Newport, Rhode Island,
                                        May 17, 1941.
From:          Commander Destroyer Division THIRTEEN.
To:       Commander Support Force.
 
Subject:  Events in connection rescue survivors S.S. SALEIER(Dutch).
 
        1.          On Thursday, lO April at about 1930 zone plus three, 
U.S.S. NIBLACK intercepted S.O.S. from S.S. SALEIER stating that she 
had been torpedoed in Lat. 58-OSN Long 30-46W and was sinking rapidly. 
Decision was made to proceed to her assistance and accordingly at 2024 
NIBLACK went ahead at 28 knots on course 063 degrees.
 
        2.         At 0750, 11 April three small boats were sighted and 
after circling them on a sound search the NIBLACK at 0826 lay to to 
receive survivors on board. The entire crew of the SALEIER of nine 
officers and 51 men were taken aboard.
 
        3.         In the meantime sound searching was continued and at 
0840 as the last of the survivors were coming aboard sound contact 
was reported bearing 75x true distant 1400 yards. This contact was 
about two points abaft the starboard beam and if it were a submarine, 
it was rapidly approaching a position for attack. With safety of ship, 
crew, and survivors in mind, decision was made to attack instantly as 
the most effective method to escape damage, accordingly, on my orders 
the ship went ahead as soon as possible at full speed and turned to an
intercepting course. Wnen it was estimated the ship should be over the 
submarine (if one were present) time depth charges were dropped at 
ten secmad intervals, and then the ship proceeded toclear the area at 
28 knots on course North withthout further investigation.
        4.         All survivors of the SALEIER were turned over to the 
British authorities at Reykjavik on arrival on 12 April.
     
 
                              D.L. Ryan