The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-07
SIR CONAN DOYLES REMARKABLE
FORECAST OF THE SUBMARINE
RAIDS ON ENGLAND'S FOOD SHIPS

carrying It TO be destroyed. The
LAWYERS could argue about Il after
ward. My business was to starve the
enemy any way I could. Within an
hour the three ships were under the
waves and the Iota was steaming
down the Picardy coast looking for
fresh victims. The Channel was COW
cred with English torpedo boats buzz
zng and whirling like a cloud Of
midges How they thought they could
hurt me cannot imagine. unless by
accident | were to come up under
meath one OF them. More dangerous
we're the aeroplanes which circled here
and there.
The water being calm had sew
eral times TO descend as deep as
hundred feet before was sure
that ] was out OF their sight.
After I had blown up the three
ships AZ BouloSnc | saw two aero
planes flying down Channel, and I
knew that they would head Off any
vessels which were coming up There
was one very large white steamer ly-
Ing Of Havre. but she steamed west
before could reach her. | dare say
stephan or one of the others would
get her before long. But those in
fernal aeroplnnes spoiled our sport for
that day Not another steamer did
see save the never ending torpedo
boats. ! consoled myself with the re-
fectlon however. that no food was
passing me on It's way to London.
That was what ! was there FOR after
ell II could DO Il without spending
my torpedoes all the better. Up TO
date had figcd ten Of them and sunk
nine steamers so I had not wasted my
weapons That night | came back to
the Kent coast and lay upon the bot
tom in shallow water near Dungeness.
We we're all trimmed and ready at
the first break Of day. for expected
10 catch some ships which had tried
To make the Thames in the darkness
and had miscalculated their time.
sure enough, there was great
steamer coming up Channel and flying
the American flag. 1t was all the
same TO me what flag she few SO long
rs she was engaged in conveying con-
tra5and OF war to the British Isles
There We're no torpedo boats about at
the moment, so I ran out on the sur
face aud fired a shot across her bows.
She seemed inclined to so on, so
put second one just above her water
line on her port bow. She stopped then
and a very angry man began to ges-
ticulate from the bridge. / ran the
Iota almost alongside.
Are you the captain?" asked.
What the" l won't attempt to
reproduce his language.
You have foods,urs on board?" 1
said.
TITS An American ship. you blind
beetle" he cried. Cant you see the
flag? It's the Vermondia OF Boston. 3"
Sorry captain" / answered. II
have really no time for words. Those
shots of mine will bring the torpedo
boats and / dare say at this very mo-
ment your wireless is making trouble
for me. Get your people into the
boats
| had to show him | was not bluff
ing so ] drew off and began putting
shells into him just on the water line.
When l had knocked six holes in his
snip he was very busy on his boats
| fired twenty shots altogether, ana no
torpedo was needed, for she vas ly-
ing over with a terrible list TO pos:
and presently came right on 10 her
side. There she lay for two or three
minutes before she fOundered. There
were eight boats crammed with people
lying round her when she went down
! believe everybody was saved. but l
could not wait to inquire. From all
quarters the poor old painting useless
war vessels We're hurrying. ! filled
my tanks. ran our bows under and
came up fifteen miles to the south. or
course | knew there would be big
row afterward--as there was--but that
I'D not help the starving crowds round
the London bakers, who only saved
their skins. poor devils. by explaining
TO the mob that they had nothing to
bake.
BY this time I was becoming rather
anxious, az you can imagine, TO know
what was going on in the world and
what England was thinking about II
all. | ran alongside a fishing boat.
therefore and ordered them to give up
their papers Unfortunately. they had
none, except a rag OF an evening
paper, which was full Of nothing but
betting news IN a second attempt |
came alongside a small yachting party
from Eastbourne who Were frightened
TO death at our sudden appeara nee
out Of the depths. From them we were
lucky enough to get the London
Courier of that very morning,
II was interesting reading--so in
teresting that I had to announce 1t all
20 the crew or course, you know the
British style OF headline, which gives