Norwich bulletin., 1915-05-18
Turkish Sailors in Action.

Pictures of Turkish sailors in a
modern naval action are seldom seen
to such advantage as in a natives &C
count of the loss of the armored cruis-
er Medtihieh, of the Turkish Black Sea
fleet, published in the ConStantinople
papers. The account purports to be a
dairy of one Of the men of the cruiser,
who saved themselves in small boats
when the vessel was sunk by a Russian
mine, near Odessa, early in April.
I'VE left Constantinople when the
golden rays of the springtime sun
were reflected in the verdant waters of
the Bosphorous'', the account begins.
I'VE were on our way to accomplish an
important duty. We were DESTROYS of
threatening the enemy on their shores.
What great joy lighted all the faces
when the Captain, Nazmi Bay had
told the officers and marines that we
were off for the fight, which for weeks
had awaited with feverish desire.
ION April 2, towards dawn, the en-
emy's shores were visible. The coastal
waters where we were steaming were
very dangerous. The enemy had Sown
mines everywhere. We were ignorant
of the positions of these mines, but we
could rest quiet, for our torpedo des-
troyers ahead of US were sounding the
sea and making a road for us. We
were advancing and the rising sun
with its broad golden rays was light
ing the pathway.
1t was $50 a. m. The first Of our
guns was about to salute the Russian
ships, houses, and hearth of the enemy,
and prove that the free and majestic
flag of the Ottomans floats on the
waves of the Black Sea.
Suddenly an explosion occurs, a
detonation 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
laFau@ -H,s- l. Il
the Prov begins to sink. in the shall
low sea. An enemy's mine which, be-
cause of it's special manufacture, had
not been seen by our mine-fishing
boat, had hit our majestic and beauti-
full ship.
crew appears. No alarm, no dis
quietude is shown. All is done in alb
solute calm with the most perfect SER
entity. No one seized the life-boats.
Not a man thinks of the boats, for
the captain has not given the word.
Four sailors are at the wheel below.
Their situation is extremely critical
but they stick to their post They
ask through the speaking tube if they
may come UP as their comrades have
done. This deed is one of a heroism
which cannot be described. 1t is a
duty to publish the names of these
brave men and to cite them as the in
carnation of the sentiment of duty.
They are: Ashar the son of Abraham
of Cartal, Achmet the son of Mehmet
of Adalia, Mehmet the son of Mustafa
of Ayanjik, and IsnaiI the son of
Yussuf of Brousa. So long as they
had received the order Of their captain
they would not quit their periIous
posts. water has already reached the
boilers and the engine room The
pumps no longer work for lack of
steam. The mat is too little to fit
the horrible leak made by the mine.
cat last the Captain orders the boats
into the water and the ife-belts dis
tributed. This is done in the greatest
calm without the least alarm or haste
The torpedo destroyerS then rush to
rescue the crew of our ship which is
sinking while the boats are being low
cred. The vessel leans more and more
on its side, and as the cannon are
partly under water, the Captain gives
the word to leave. The order is ex-
ecuted without alarm. The boats fill
with sailors, reach the destroyers and
come back for others.
All the objects and important in
struments of the ship are lowered into
the boats and saved. The Captain has
no 1ife-belt. A sailor offers him his
He was the last to leave the ship, af-
ter having made sure that no one was
left on board. The PROV was entirely
under water, the stern still out.
AT 1t was necessary to prevent the
enemy from relocating the ship, a
destroyer fired a torpedo at her. II
was a wise measure. Immediately a
column of water arose and the ship
diSa Dneared