New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-07
CAPTAIN TELLS HOW HE
BLEW BRITISH WARSHIP
Ruse Deceived Fleet in Dardanelles Until loo Late,
Says German Commander of Turkish Torpedo
Boat That Sunk the Goliath

Constantinople, July 10.-Captain
Lieutenant Rudolph Firle. commander
of the Turkish torpedo boat Mauvenet-
I-Millet, which sent the British line
ship Goliath to the bottom of Morto
Bay, off Sid-el-Bahr. in the Darda-
nelles, has told his own full story Of
his exploit 20 The Associated Press
correspondent. simplifying with details
the earlier accounts.
Captain Firle is thirty-three years
old. but looks no more than twenty-six.
He is a Rhinelander. slight in build.
and speaks English almost without for
eign accent. The torpedo boat he COM
manded was one of four vessels Of the
same class which were transferred
from German to Turkish ownership
several years ago. Before her change
in ownership she was known as the
S-165.
In telling of the sinking of the
Goliath. Captain Firle said:
"The British ships off the Darda-
nelles entrances were causing the Turk
ish troops near Sid-el-Bahr some
trouble. 1t was decided that something
would have to be done to remove a
little Of the one-sidedness of the af-
fair.
"Soon after midnight on May 1918
the Millet slipped through the Turkish
mine fields and approached the British
feet of warships and transports which
was lying in and south of Morto Bay.
"As we passed one of the last pro-
montories the British fleet. with every
portfolio Int and protector playing, gave
all the impression of a large city-let
me say like Kiel on regatta day.
Wait Until Crews Turn In.
"The British ships had on that day
kept up the bombardment of the Turk
ish positions until after IL o'clock at
night. On the way down held coun-
ell with my two lieutenants as to the
time of night we were to make our at
tack. We thought at first that the
noise of the bombardment which was
then still going or would aid US. Later
we decided to wait until the weary crews
had turned in. expecting that after so
strenuous days work they would be
too tired to exercise more than a per-
functory vigilance. 1t was proved soon
afterward that this theory was COR
rect.
"We continued down the strait at a
leisurely gait of from seven to eight
knots an hour. | ordered this be-
cause | wanted TO get as close to the
British as possible before they would
discover the presence of an enemy's
craft. Driving a torpedo boats ma
chinery at full tilt causes a great deal
of noise. and. what is worse. blows too
many sparks out of the tunnels.
at was about 1890 o'clock at night
when | saw ahead of me the outlines
of two British destroyers. They were
patrolling the strait. | am sure that
they must have seen US. But our low
speed evidently fooled them. They
held TO their course and | let the
Millet glide through between them.
Beyond the destroyers We sighted
eight torpedo boats. churning through
the Esenkoi Bay in pairs, each two
keeping in sort of echelon position.
| admit that things began to look very
interesting.
"But the eight torpedo boats. like
the two destroyers, kept looking after
their business, whatever that may have
been. So on we went at the same
speed.
Heads for Nearest Ship.
Just as we rounded the northern
promontory which helps to form Morto
Bay, the silhouettes Of two British
lineships came into vieew. | held the
Millet for the bow Of the nearest, and
kept this course until we were close
to her. Naturally, | expected TO have
ny boat detected each instant and
have few shells come her way.
Nothing of the sort occurred, however
ITO have a torpedo strike surely it
is necessary to have its course run as
closely at right angle to the side of the
target as possible. This obliged me TO
steer to port in slight curve, because
| had decided 70 torpedo the British
lineship on her starboard side, which
was the nearest to the open water
through which the Millet would have
to escape.
1.-THE Millet was discovered Just as
her broadside became visible TO the
lookouts on the British lineships. A
night signal fash began to work. It's
long and short blinking spelled out
what ordinarily is the Morse letter
90.
~ wasn't quite prepared to give an
intelligent answer to that, but felt
that the inquiring was for me. | got
to work with my own night lantern,
and also spelled 20, taking it for
granted that a repetition of the signal
on my part would at least delay some
other action or prevent for few mo-
ments the making of another inquiry.
"The ruse succeeded After a few
seconds delay the signal man on the