The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-06-14
CHAINED A WARSHIP.
An Incident of the War Between
Greece and Turkey.
A YOUNG OFFICERS DARING.

suited In Making a Powerful Greek
Vessel a Helpless Prisoner Within
the LandIooked Waters of Arta.
1t was during the war between
Greece and Turkey in 1897 that the
inhabitants Of Gala Krini--a large VII
age. since destroyed by the Turks, on
the shores of the gulf Of Arta-awoke
one morning to find that Hellenic
battleship had entered the gulf and
cast anchor of the shore. The sur
prise of the inhabitants of Gala Krini
was nothing compared with that of a
party Of. five Turkish officers, who,
fresh from the crest of a hill towering
above the village, watched the vessel
through their telescopes.
These Turkish officers were on an
urgent and important mission = to
block out the Hellenic feet from the
gulf Of Arta. Behind them, at the
bottom of the deep ravine were a
number of heavy guns which had been
dragged all the way from Saloniki, a
long and difficult task, and with this
artillery they had been ordered to for
tify the strait
To reach the strait, however, the
Turkish column had 10 run the gantlet
Of the battleship's heavy guns. which
meant sheer destruction. Somehow or
other they must escape the man-of-
war or prevent her interference with
their work, but to do this seemed i'm
possible.
In the midst of their discussion a
young officer who had been listening
said he could hold the vessel prison
er If they would allow him. His plead
ing won, and hurriedly changing his
clothes for those of shepherd, he de-
scended in that disguise to Gala Krini.
Late that night number of figures
stole through the dark alleys of the
village toward the shore. Close to the
waters edge was an old boathouse,
used as a shed for repairing boats.
This the party silently entered and by
the Pickering light of a taper search
ed the black interior. At length there
was gentle rattle and from the gloom
emerged Hassan, stripped to the waist,
dragging heavy chain. This, with
the help Of his comrades, he began to
pull, and after an hours laborious
work the end Of the great chain-once
the cable Of Turkish vessel-was
reached.
From the beach the chain was load
ed on board a large eaique, whose
sides and floor had been covered with
cloth to deaden the sound. This task
accomplished, three men got in with
Hassan and rowed with nuff1ed oars
toward large rock in the middle OF
the blight Round this rock the chain
was laid and securely fastened. One
man having been landed ON the crag
to keep guard over this end, the boat
set out cautiously for the battleship,
looming like phantom in the dis
lance Not a sound did the men make
as link by link the massive chain was
paid out over the stern into the still
water till they reached the vessel.
There was an excited CLEAN In Has
sans eyes as, with sign to his COM
rades, he gradually lowered himself
into the dark water, guiding himself
by passing his fingers over the battle
ships plates. A slight grating Of the
chain against the hull was all that his
anxious companions in the boat heard,
though now and then reassuring pull
was felt on the line that Hassan held,
directing them how to pay out the
chain. Hours rather than minutes
seemed to have gone by ere the young
officer came to the surface. So ex-
hausted by his long dive was he that
he had to be almost lifted into the
boat.
'Tt is round the propeller" he gasp
ed. II have fixed it SO that nothing
can move it. Back you go"
Then link by link the tedious work
was renewed until the boat returned
to its starting point, where the other
end of the chain was secured. The
risky task was done, and the Hellenic
battleship was securely moored to an
immovable rock by a double thickness
of cable.
The early rays Of dawn revealed a
sight which astonished the Greek COM
mander. Z whole regiment of Turks
were on the march toward the strait
of Aria, with train after train Of artil-
lery, the last of which disappeared be-
yond the intervening head before the
ships guns could be brought to bear
on them. The commander gave orders
for the guns to be run out and decks
cleared for action, while the anchor
was weighed, his intention being to
prevent the Turks from terrifying the
strait before they had become too
strong. "Full speed ahead!" went the
order to the engine room, and. pro-
PEELED by her mighty screw. the bat
tIeship advanced. only to lurch back
ward as If dragged by some unseen
force Work as the engines would,
the vessel seemed to be in an enchant-
ed circle, beyond which 1t was impos-
sible to go.
1t was not until the suns rays had
penetrated the deep blue water along
side that the secret was revealed and
the massive chain was discovered pass
ing round the ships propeller and the
adjacent rock.
Before it could be removed, how
ever. the strait had been sufficiently
fortified by the Turks and power
sul Greek warship lay helpless pris-
oner within the landiocked waters OF
Arta.