The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-07-09
CHAINED A WARSH|P.
An Incident Of the War Between
Greece and Turkey.
A YOUNG OFFICERS DARING.

] No uOTN0 Vt0SN 2n0 Sxfot6Qy re
suited In Making . Powerful Greek
Vessel Helpless Prisoner Within
the laudiocksd Waters Of Aria.
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 or the shore. The sur
prise Of the Inhabitants OF Gala Krini
was nothing compared with that Of \
party of Ave 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 fleet 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 to 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 Z
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 a 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 taper search
| ed the black interior. At length there
was q gentle rattle and from the gloom
emerged Hassan. stripped to the waist.
dragging a heavy chain. This. with
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 op board large caique. whose
| sides and door had been covered with
cloth to deaden the sound. This task
| accomplished, three men got In with
| Hassan and rowed with muff1ed oars
toward a 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 q 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 a 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
l
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.
1T is round the propeller" he gasp
ed. II have fixed It 30 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
1 battleship was securely moored to an
| immovable rock by 4 double thickness
Of cable.
| The early rays Of dawn revealed Z
sight which astonlshed the Greek com.
mander A whole regiment OF Turks
were on the march toward the strait
Of Arta. with train after train Of artil
lery, the last Of which disappeared be
i yOIIu Tie luICISCnAuk AC0A OCAOAO sASs
] ships guns could be brought to ,beai
on them. The commander gave ORDER
for the guns to be run out and decks
cleared for action, while the anchor
was weighed. his intention being t.
prevent the Turks from terrifying th<
strait before they had become to<
| strong. Full speed ahead!" went ths
order to the engine room. and, pro
PEELED by her mighty screw. the bat
tleship advanced. only to lurch back
ward as IL dragged by some unseer
force. Work 40 the engines would
the vessel seemed to be in an enchant
| Cd circle, beyond which It was impos
sible to 60.
It 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 tn
| adjacent rock.
Before It could be removed. how
ever, the strait had been SUFFICIENT,
fortified by the Turks and > power
| ful Greek warship lay I helpless pris
oner within the landlocked waters o
Arta.