The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1911-03-13
CHAINED A WARSH|P.
An Incident of the War Between
Greece and Turkey.
A YOUNG OFFICERS DARING.
The Turks Pluck and Strategy Re-
suited In Making a Powerful Greek
Vessel Helpless Prisoner Within
the Landlocked Waters of Arta.

vessel helpless Prisoner Within |
the Landlocked Waters of Arta.
it was during the war between
Greece and Turkey In 1897 that the
/, Inhabitants of Gala Krini-a large vii.
Rge. since destroyed by the Turks, on
the shores of the gulf of Arta-awoke
one morning to find that a Hellenic
lattleship had entered the gulf and
inst anchor off 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
hbove 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
Eulf of Arta. Behind them, at the
lotion of the deep ravine, were
humber of heavy guns which had been
dragged all the way from Saloniki, a
long and difficult task. and with this
hrtillery they had been ordered to for
Iiify the strait.
To reach the strait, however. the
Turkish column had to run the gauntlet
nf the battleship's heavy guns. which
meant sheer destruction. Somehow Or
nther 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 be could hold the vessel a prison
pr 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 Il number of figures
Ftole through the dark alleys of the
village toward the shore. Close to the
waters edge was an old boathouse,
! used as shed for repairing boats.
/ This the party silently entered and by
1 the pickering light of a taper search
l ed the black interior. At length there
was a gentle rattle and from the gloom
emerged Hassan. stripped to the waist,
dragging a heavy chain. This, with
the help of his comrades, he began to
pun, dut dllCi an houi ldDOllOuo
work the end of the great chain--once
the cable of Turkish vessel-was
reached.
Il From the beach the chain was load
ed on board a large caique, whose
/ bdes and floor had been covered with
i tloth TO deaden the sound. This task
/ accomplished. three men got in with
| lIassan and rowed with muftled oars
| toward large rock in the middle of
/ the blight Round this rock the chain
| WAS laid and securely fastened. One
j man having been landed on tue crag
TO keep guard over this end. the boat
sci out cautiously for the battleship.
l. looming like a phantom in the dis
\ lance. Not sound did the men make
Il as link by link the massive chain was
u 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. 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-
D., hausted by his long dive was he that
he had to be almost lifted into the
boat
ut is round the propeller" he gasp
ed. 81 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
t. 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
i. immovable rock by a double thickness
of cable.
The early rays of dawn revealed I
sight which astonished the Greek com
mander. whole regiment of Turk
were on the march toward the strai
of Arta, with train after train of artil
lery, the last of which disappeared be
ISuu Tie hSaN pNAS'S 49,
ships guns could be brought to bea
on them. The commander gave order
for the guns to be ruiz out and deck
cleared for action. while the ancho
was weighed, his intention being t
prevent the Turks from terrifying tn
strait before they had become to-
strong. Full speed aheadt' went tn
order to the engine room, and. pre-
PEELED by her mighty screw. the bal
tleship advanced. only to lurch bach
ward as if dragged by some unsee
force. Work as the engines would
the vessel seemed to be in an enchan'
- ed circle. beyond which 1t was tmpos
Nd sibfe to go.
, It was not until the suns rays ma
penetrated the deep blue water along
side that the secret was revealed an
IA..1xN Nh nd