Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-08-13

(ASSoc1ated Press COrreSponoence)
Constantinople, July 20.-Captain-
Lieutenant Rudolph Firle, commander
of the Turkish torpedoboat Mauvenet-
I-Millet which sent the British line
ship Goliath to the bottom of Morto
Bay off Sid-el-Bahr. in the Daroa- :
nelles. has told his own full story Oh
= his exploit to The Associated Press
correspondent, simplifying with some
interesting details the earlier accounts.
Captain Firle is young man OF So
years, but looks no more than 20. ne
is Rhineiander, slight in bulid, anu
speaks English almost without Foreign
accent The torpedoboat 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.'
When asked to relate his experience
in sinking the Goliath. Captain F1fie
proceeded with this straightforward
matter Of fact narrative:
THE British ships off the Darda-
Y1elles entrances were causing the
Turkish troops>near Sid-el-Bahr some
trouble 1t was decided that some
thing would have to be done to re-
move a little OF the onesidedness of the
affair.
"Shortls1 after midnight, May 1913,
the Mauvenet- I-Millet slipped through
the Turkish minefields and approached
the British fleet of warships and
transports which was lying in and
south Of Morto Bay.
LAS we passed one Of the last
promontories the British fleet. with
every port hole lit and protector
playing, gave all the impression of a
large city-let me say like Kiel on Re-
gatta Day.
THE British ships had on that day
kept up the bombardment Of the Turk
ish positions until after eleven o'clock
at night. On the way down. I held a
council with my two lieutenants as to
the time of night we were to make our
attack. We thought at first that the
noise of the bombardment which was
then still going on, 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 perfunctory vigilance.
1T was proven shortly afterwards
that this theory was correct.
We continued down the strait at a
leisurely gait of from seven to eight
knots an hour. l ordered this because
wanted to get as close to the British
as possible before they would dis
cover the presence of an enemy's
= craft. Driving a torpedoboat's ma
chinery at full tilt causes a great deal
: of noise and what is worse blows toe
many sparks out of the tunnels.
1T was about 1890 midnight when
saw ahead of me the outlines of two
British destroyers. They were patrol
ling the strait. am sure that they
speed, evidently, fooled them. They
held to their course and l let the
Mauvenet Millet glide through be-
: tween them.
Beyond the destroyers we sighted
: eight torpedoboats, chur1ing 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 torpedoboats, like the
I. two destroyers, kept looking after
= their business. whatever that may
= have been. SO on we went at the
: same speed.
: Just as we rounded the northern
: promontory which helps to form
: Morto Bay, the silhouttes of two Brit
|, the Mauvenet-I- Millet for the bow o.
hi
: we were close to her. Naturally.
I. expected to have my boat detected
each instant and have a few shell!
/: come her way. Nothing Of the sor
occurred, however
; ITO have torpedo strike surely i
; is necessary to have its course run a!
: closely at a right angle to the side O.
: the target as possible. This obliged
: me to steer to port in a slight curve
because I had decided to torpedo tn,
British lineship on her starboard side
= which was nearest to the open water
through which the Mauvenet l. Mile
; would have to escape.
THE Mauvenet l. Millet was discov
cred just as her broadside became
visible to the lookouts on the British
lineships. A night signal flash bega,
to work. Its long and short blinking
spelled out what ordinarily is tn,
Morse letter o.
Il wasn't quite prepared to give al
intelligent answer to that, but fel
that the inquiring was for me. / go
to work with my own night lantern
and also spelled o. taking it To-
granted that a repetition of the sigma
on my part would at least delay som,
: other action or prevent for few mo
ments the making of another inquiry.
The ruse succeeded. After few
seconds delay. the signal man on tn,
Goliath again flashed o. replies
e with the same number Of dots ant
dashes, and having now come within
$50 to 400 yards Of the British vessel