New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-03
One British Destroyer and
Two German Torpedo
Boats Sunk.
SUBMARINE HITS
II. Nj. S. RECRUIT
TraWlcr Colombia Sunk with
Loss of II LiveS-Fight
Lasts an Hour.

London, May "A German sub
marine on Saturday sank the nineteen
ycar-old British destroyer Recruit of
the Gallopcr Lightship, in the North
Sea, but the score was more than
cqualized by other British destroyers,
which after a stern chase overlook and
sank the two German torpedo boats
that had accompanied the submarine on
her cruise.
Some Of the crew Of the Recruit were
rescued by the trawler Daisy, but as
the submarine fred on the fishermen
they were compelled 10 leave the others
TO their fate. The British destroyers
rescued most Of the crews Of the Ger
man torpedo boats, and TWO officers
were picked up By a passing steamer
and taken 20 Holland.
The text Of the Admiralty statement
follows:
"A series Of small affairs took place
in the neightorhood of the Ga.loper
and North Hinder lightships on Satur-
day. During the forenoon Il. NJ. de-
stroyer Recruit was sunk by a SUB
marine, four officers and twenty-one
men being saved by the trawler Daisy.
AT D. m. the trawler Colombia was
attacked by two German torpedo boats,
who approached her from the westward
and commenced an action without
hosting their colors. The Colombia
was sunk by torpedo, only one deck
hand being saved by other trawlers.
"A division OF British destroyers'
comprising the Laforey, the Leonidas'
the Lawford and the Lark, chased the
two German vessels, and after brief
running fight of about one hour sunk
them both. The British destroyers
sustained no casualties.
Two German officers and forty-four
men were rescued from the sea and
made prisoners of war"
The destroyer Recruit was on patrol
duty on Saturday wnen the submarine
sank her. According to details re-
ceived here she was struck amiGshlps
by a torpedo and at once began TO
sink. The wounded vessel slgnaIled
for assistance, and her call was an
swered by the trawler Daisy, and thirty
men Of her complement Of slXty-tiVe
were saved.
It is stated that a torpedo was fired
AZ the Daisv. which was forced to leave
one Of her rescue boats behind, and
that the submarine chased this boat
and fired her gun at It, woundIng TOUR
men.
Immediately after being taken pris-
oner by the British, one Of the German
officers engaged in the action blew out
his brains.
The Germans. il is said, made an ex-
tremely poor fight. their shooting being
erratic, whereas the British firing was
deadly and effective. An eyewitness
Of the chase said:
"The Germans looked like a beaten
foe from the first. | never thought
they would reach home. The British
boats simply shot through the water.
They were in grim earnest, and almost
every minute bang! bang! bang! went
one Of their guns.
81 could see one shot crash into one
Of the German boats, and she must have
been struck in vital part, for her
speed became considerably reduced and
she offered little further resistance. |
watched them as long as ! could and
saw they were both doomed"
After the fight the British sailors
launche boats and picked up and cared
for forty-one Of the enemy.
The Norwegian steamer Varild, on
arriving in the waterway at Maasluis,
Holland, from London, reported that
she had saved two officers of a German
torpedo boat sunk in the North Sea,
says q Reuter- dispatch from Maasluis.
The officers were taken 10 a patrol
beat.
Yarmouth, May 1.-The trawler Bar
bados has arrived here in a damaged
condition as the result of an encounter
with a German torpedo boat off the
Belgian coast on Saturday. The cap
tain of the trawler was wounded in
the foot, but the rest OF the crew es-
capped uninjured.
The Barbados reports that the trawl-
or Colombia was torpedoed and sunk
with seventeen hands. One survivor
and one German bluejacket, who had
fallen overheard. were brought to Var
mouth by the Barbados.
The Barbados defended he<elf
against the torpedo boat with two
small guns. and the captain says the
German was evidently hit, as steam
was seen escaping from her. The
wheelhouse and funnel Of the Barbados
were riddled with shot.