Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-12-31
German Attack on Seaboard Is
First Suffered by England
Since 1878

Germany, In making her raid on the
east coast OF England. may have had
In mind the activities Of one John
Paul Jones in the same region about
a century and 0 half ago. Or she may
not. At any rate. she struck at a
district which has been o historic
point OF inyasion-and the story OF
John Paul Jones Is timely.
This Scottish adyenturer began his
career as sea rover as a lieutenant
in the stripping navy of the American
colonies. The summer Of 1777 found
him on the way to Europe in conf
mand OF the Ranger. vessel CT little
force, which had been made seawortfly
for the venture in great haste. He
had sailed from nearly every port in
England and was well qualified to
carry out to the letter the terms Of
his commission, by which he was to
harrass English shipping in its own.
waters.
His purposes were baked at first
by violent storms. which threatened
to sink the doughty Ranger. but as It
happened the gales drove him almost
within sight of the English coast.
After sinking a brigantine between
the island OF Sicily and Cape Clear
and impressfng her crew--the Ranger
proceeded ncrthward into ST. Georges
channel. The month was April, the.
year 1878.
Captures = British Cargo.
II was the 18th Of the month when
the Lord Chatham, with a cargo Of
porter and q variety OF merchandise
for Dublin and Cork merchants, fell
into Jones hands. That was the real
beginning Of one of the most daring
sea raids in naval history On the
18th he destroyed q Scotch coasting
steamer of the Null of Galloway,
about three leagues from his native
Arbigland But the object of Capt.
Jones planning he was then CAP
tain-was the harbor of Whitehaven,
where is years before he had worked
as an apprentice.
Meanwhile he continued his destruc-
tive cruise around the Isle of Man and
before Carrickfergus. In the north Of
Ireland; he destroyed more than a
dozen small craft, while richly
laden brig fell to his hand near the
Rock Of Ailsa. On. the 21st he was
within sight OF Whitehayen In his
mind he had determined to- FIRE the
city and the shipping In its harbor.
Captures Whitehsven; Spikes Guns.
No one suspected that the strange
looking craft approaching was an
American warship, and Jones writes
4, hfc 4s,,fr,,ai t3,<,t l. = ~, i III,
landing. The sentinels on shore were
taken prisoners in Jig time and be-
fore any one was aware 0f what had
happened all the cannon IN the fort.
ress had been spiked But. Jones, sub
tOIlinates had failed to comply with
his order that the place be burned, so
he igniteda vessel In the harbOr with
his own hand. The attempt to fire
the town was unsuccessful, however.
In 177s while cruising about the
east coast OF Scotland, between the
Sclway and the Clyde, the American
commander determined to capture the
earl Of Selkifk, whose home was al
the mouth Of the Dee. Jones anchored
his vessel in the Solway at noon and
with q few men, In single boat,
sought the wooded promontory where
lay the eari's estate. The earl had
been quite friend to Jones' father
and Jones was provoked at not finding
him at home. Thus fell through one
OF his pet projects
Commands Elect Of Five ships.
| In the middle OF August, I779, Jones
was sent from the French port 81
lL'0rient with Ave vessels to the coas,
Of Scotland His fIagship was the
famous Bon Homme Richard. En-
countering some armed British YES
Iaels In the hai'bor OF Leith, Jone.
prepared to give battle, but 4 storm
came up and drove him into the Norrf
sea, where for some time he allowet
his presence to be known and felt
| He rayaeed the Scottish coast viii
| fire and sword, so far as shipping wal
concerned.
i Late in September while the Amer
can squadron lay few leagues mort
| Of the mouth Of the Humber. an Enc
| lish fleet Of forty merchantmen. cor
yeyed BY the Scraps and the Scar
borough, two ships Of war, hove i
hlgnL A chase ensued and while Til,
opposing vessels unanswered for al
advantage night fell. There on til
evening Of September %. 177s, at
o'clock, began one OF the most despe1
ate sea fights recorded III history.
Famous Battle With Scraps.
The Bon Homme Richard and til
Scraps. Capt Pearson, came SO clos
at one time that their spars and ri,
ging became entangled and Jones a
tempted to board his antagonist. 4.
furious contest with pike, pistols an
cutlass followed and the American
were repnlsed. The vessels separate
and broadside followed broadside unit
both were shattered. Once the Serapi
was on IRE IN 4 dozen places, an
then, just as the moon rose, the Ricl
ard. too, caught IRE. The hand /
hand lighting was resumed and shor
" i became apparent that the Amer
sklN o. srauTr Il ,oY ronrvxa
n. |. FELIX 60uRaUD's
nMsn~&4H NAAs..