Omaha daily bee., 1915-05-23
STAY BY THE SHIP
UNTIL IT GOES DOWN
Bravery Of Members of the Crew of
the Turkish Armored Cruiser
Described by One of Men.
CAPTAIN IS LAST TO LEAVE


fcorrespondenoe Of the Associated Press.)
CoNsTANTINoPLE. May l9.-Pictures
Of Turkish sailors In a modern naval
action are seldom seen 10 such advantage
as in a natives account OF the loss OF
the armored cruiser Mediihieh OF the
Turkish Black Sea fleet published in the
Constantinople papers. The account pur-
ports to be a diary OF one OF the rcen Of
the cruiser. who saved themselves in
small boats when the vessel was sunk
~ q Russian mine, near ODESSA, early in
April
we left Constsntinople when the
golden rays OF the springtime sun were
reflected IN the verdant waters Of the
Bosphorus," the account begins. I'VE
were on our way 20 accomplish an i'm
portant duty. DESTROYS OF threatening the
enemy on their very shores.
What great Joy lighted all the faces
when the csptain Naznni Bay. had told
ne officers and marines that we were
cff for the fight. which for weeks we had
waited with severish desire.
Sounding for TOrpedpes.
April 2, toward the dawn, the enemy's
shores were visible The coastal waters
whore VIC were steaming were very dan
gerous. The enemy had sown mines
everywhere. We were ignorant of the
positions of these mines. but we could
rest quiet for our torpedo dostroyers
ahead OF us were sounding the sea and
making q road for us. We were ad-
vancing and the rising sun with Its broad
golden rays was lighting the pathway.
1T was $50 A. m. The first fire OF our
a.
ships. houses and hearth Of the enemy
and prove that the free and majestic ilag
of tho Ottoman floats on tho waves OF
she Black Sea-
'suddenly an explosion occurs. a de-
donation which shakes the whole ship.
A column OF water rises. then bursts
Pieces Of iron strike the deck and plunge
into the water. What has happened7 The
ship heels rapidly and the prov begins 60
sink in the shallow sea. An enemy's
snine which. because OF its special man
ufacture. had not been seen by our mine
fishing boat had hit our majestic and
beautiful ship
spirit 81 bravery.
Here the spirit Of bravery In our crew
RppearG No alarm, no disquietnde ID
shown. All Is done in absolute calm with
The most perfect serenity. No one seized
the life belts. Not q man thinks Of the
boats. for the captain has not given the
word. Tho crew has come up on deck.
for water is rapidly filling tine shlp. -Four
sHiiors are az the wheel below. Their
situation is extremely critical but they
stick 20 their post they ask through
the speaking tube n they may come up
81 their comrades have dene.
This deed IL one OF a heroism that
cannot be described. II Is q duty 10 pub
iish tho names OF these brave men and
TO cite them az the incarnation Of the
sentiment OF duty. They are. Ashar. .he
son Of Abraham OF cartal; Achmct. the
son OF Mehmet OF Adaila; Mehmes, tho
son OF Mustafa Of Ayanjk. and Ismail,
the son Of Yusauf OF Brousa. So long as
they had not received the order OF their
captain they would not quit their peril
ous posts. Tho water has already reached
the boilers and the engineroom; the
pumps no longer work for lack of steam;
tho mat il too little 10 1T the horrible
leak made by the nine
Life Belts Dlstribated.
At last tho captain orders the boats
into the water and tho lifabeits distri-
buted- This u done in the greatest calm
aud without the least alarm or haste
The torpedo destroyera then rush TO res
cue the crow OF our ship, which is sink
ing while the boats are being lowered
The vessel leans more and more on ia
side. and as the cannon are partly under
water the captain gives tho word tC
leave The order Is executed without
alarm The boats filI with sailors. react
the destroyers and come back for others
IAN the objects and important instru
rnents OF the ship are lowered into ths
boats ana saved. the captain has M
lifebelt. A sailor offers him his. He wa
the last 20 leave the ship. after havinI
made sure that no one was left on board
The Prov was entirely under water th'
stern still out.
rAs II was necessary 20 prevent tn
enemy from relocating the ship. n de
stroyer fired a torpedo at IT, II was l
wise measure. Immediately column
s.e..vafer a roaa and the ahip diaaDDea red