The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-26


quence. Nor could she charge her
batteries in peace, so at the end of an
other hectic-which is bad for the
temper-she decided to quit these in
tested waters near the coast and
charge them somewhere off the traf-
fic routes.
This accomplished after a long hot
run which did the motors no rood,
she went back to her beat. where she
picked up three destroyers conveying
CLASSY calm and the destroyers came
for me-" She got off long
range torpedo at a transport and
ducked before she Could judge the re-
suits. She apologies for this, on the
grounds that one of her periscopes
pect, by gentlemen leaning out of lit
tie steamboats,, but by some casual
shot-the caliber is not specified-on
the day before "and So" says the Ella,
II could not risk my remaining one
being bent"
Heard a Thud.
However. she heard a thud and her
depth gauges, those great clock hands
on white face circles. clicked" which
is another sign of dreadful certainty
down under.
when she rose again she saw a de-
strover conveying one burning trans
port to the nearest beach That aft
ernoon she met a sister boat; now
gone to Valhalla, who told her that she
was almost out of torpedces and they
arranged a rendezvous for the next
day, but before we could conmuni-
cate further we had to dive and I did
not see her again"
There must be many such MEETINGS
in the trade under all skies. boat ris-
ing by boat at p-'rnt agreed upon
for the interchange OF news, materl-
ais and talk shouted aloud, with the
speakers eyes always on the horizon
and all nands standing by to dive in
the middle of 4 sentence
The Ella kept to her job on the
edge of the procession of traffic. The
patrol boats annoyed her to such ar
extent that as 1 had not seen any
transports lately. I decided to sink a
patrol ship, as they are always firing
on me-" So she torpedoed anything
that looked like a mine layer. A
tramp steamer numbering across the
dead flat sea was thoughtfully headed
back to Constantinople by the firing
of rifles ahead of her. I'VE were I'M
der fire the whole day. the Ella OBJ
serves, philosophically. The nature of
her work made this inevitable. She
was all among the patrols, which kept
her down a good deal and made her
draw on her batteries and when she
rose to charge them, watchers ashore
burned oil flames on the beach or
made smokes among the hills, accord
ing to the light. In either case, there
would be a general rush of patrolling
to gunboats-
No Love for Trade.
Nobody loves the trade" though
the Ella did several things which
made her popular. She led off string
of very surprised shows-(they were
empty)-in charge OF tug, which
promptly fled back to Contantinop1e,
nj Gfn NIL of Sfa q
of refugees, also bound for Constant
inople, who were very pleased at be-
ing allowed to proceed instead of be-
ing LuSitaniaed as they expected An
other refugee. fleeing from goodness
knows what horror, she chased into
Rodosto harbor, where, though she
did not see troops. they opened a
heavy rifle fire on US, hitting our
boat several times, SO L went away
and chased two more small tramps,
who returned toward Constantinople.
Transports, of course, are fair game
and in spite of the necessity she was
under of not risking her remaining
eye, the Ella got a big one in night
of wind and made another hurriedly
Danish itself, which then opened fire
on her, assisted by the local popula-
ton. I'VE returned the fire and pro-
ceeded," says the Ella. Tho diversion
of returning fire is one much appre-
ciated by the lower deck as furnish
ing a pleasant break in what might
otherwise be monotonous and odori-
ferrous task.
There is no drill laid down for these
evoIutions but etiquette and custom
prescribe that in going up the hatch
you are not too energetically to prod
the next man ahead with the muzzle
of your rifle. Likewise, when descend
ing in quick time before the hatch
closes, you are requested not to jump
directly on the head of the next below.
OtherwiSc, you act as requisite" on
your own initiative
When she had used up all her tor
pedoes, the Ella prepared to go home
by the way she had come-there was
no other-and was chased toward Gal
npoli by mixed pack composed of
gunboats. torpedoboats and tugs.
They shepherd me to Galliopli, one
on each side of me and one astern,
evidently expecting me to be caught
by the nets there"
She walked very delicately for the
next eight hours or so down the
straits running under the strong tides,
ducking down when the fire from the
forts was too hot, verifying her posi-
ton and the position of the mine field,
but always taking notes of every ship
IN sight till, towards tea time she saw
our navy off the entrance and rose to
( the surface abeam a French battle
/ ship. who gave us a rouSing cheer"
!