Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1915-04-23
CHAPTER v.
Starvation Brings Peace.

starvation brings PSaCe,
4 7 would be a mere repetition
of what | have already de-
scribed if | were to recount
- all our proceedings during
that first ten days after l resumed
my station. During my absence the
ships had taken heart and had begun
to come up again. In the first day
got four. After that had to go far
tier afield, and again | picked up sew
eral in French waters. Once | had a
narrow escape through one of my
Kingston valves getting some grit into
it and refusing to act when | was be-
low the surface Our margin Of buoy
ancy just carried us through. By the
end OF that week the channel was
clear again. and both Beta and my
own boat were down west once more
There we had encouraging messages
from our Bristol cOnsOrt. who in turn
had heard from Delta at Liverpool.
Our task was completely done. We
could not prevent all food from pass
ing into the British islands, but at
least we bad raised what did get in
to a price which put it far beyond the
means of the penniless, voorhees, null
titudeS. In vain the government com
mandeered it all and doled it out as a
general feeds the garrison Of q for
tress. The task was too great-the re-
sponsibility too horrible. Even the
proud and stubborn English could not
face it any longer.
remember we'll how the newspcame
to me. was lying at the time off Sci
sey Bill when | saw a small war YES
sci coming down channel. 1t had new
er been my policy to attack any vessel
coming down. Ny torpedoes and even
my shells were too precious for that.
| could not help being attracted, how
ever, by the movements Of this ship.
which came slowly ZigZagging in my
direction.
Looking for me- thought |. What
on earth does the foolish thing hope
to DO if she could find me-"
| was lying aWash at the time and
got ready to go below in case she
should come for me. But at that mo-
ment-she was about half mile away
She turned her quarter, and there, to
my Amusement, WAS the red flag with
the blue circle, our own beloved flag,
flying from her peak. For moment
thought that this was some clever
dodge of the enemy 20 tempt me with
in range. | snatched up my glasses
and called on Eornal Then we both
recognized the vessel 1t was the Juno.
the only one left intact of our own
cruisers. What could she be doing fly
ing the flag in the enemy's waters?
Then | understood it, and, turning to
VOrnal. we threw ourselves into each
others arms. 1t could only mean an
armistice-or peace!
And it was peace. We learned the
glad news when we had risen along
side the Juno and the ringing cheers
which greeted US had at last died
away. Our orders were to report our
selves at once at Blankenberg. Then
she passed on down channel to collect
thC OCuSlS. " Z 10 pOIL
the surface, Steaming through the
whole British feet as we passed up
the North sea. The crews clustered
thick along the sides Of the vessels to
watch us. l can see now their sullen,
angry faces. Many shook their fists
and cursed us as we went by 1t was
not that we had damaged them. Twill
do them the justice to say that the
English, as the old Boer war has
proved, bear no resentment against
brave enemy, but that they thought
US cOwardly to attack merchant ships
and avoid the warships. 1t is like the
Arabs. who think that a flank attack
Is mean, unmanly device. War is
not merely a big game, my English
friends. 1t is desperate business to
gain the upper hand. and one must
use ones brain in order to find the
weak spot of ones enemy. 1t is not