Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1916-07-25
CHAINED TOAROck
How the Turks Once imprisoned
a Greek Battleship.
DARING or A YOUNG OFFICER.
His Pluck and Strategy Resulted In
Making the Powerful Enemy Vessel
Lie Helpless Within the Lsndiooksd
Waters Of the Gulf Of Arta.

inhabitants or Gala Krini--a large VII
lage, since destroyed by the Turks. on
the shores OF the gulf OF Arta-awoke
one morning to find that Hellenic
battleshlp had entered tho gulf and
cast anchor of the shore. The sur.
prise OF the inhabitants OF Gala Krini
was nothing compared with that OF a
party OF Eve Turkish officers, who.
from the very crest Of a hill towering
above the village. watched the vessel
through their telescopes
These Turkish officers were on an
urgent and important mission : TO
block out the Hellenic ficet from the
gulf Of Arta. Behind them. at the
bottom Of tho deep ravine, were a
number Of heavy guns which had been
dragged all the way from Saloniki, O
long and difficult task. and with this
artillery they had been ordered to for.
ufy the strait.
To reach the strait, however, the
Turkish column had to run the gantlet
OF the battieship's heavy guns. which
meant sheer destruction. Somehow or
other they must escape the man-of-
war or prevent her Interference with
their work. but TO do this seemed Inn.
possible.
In the midst Of their discussion n
young Officer who had been listening
said he could hold the vessel prison.
or n they would allow him. His plead.
ing won. and, hurriedly changing his
clothes for those Of shepherd. he de-
scended In that disguise TO Gala Krini
Late that night u number Of figures
stole through the dark alleys Of the VII
lage toward the shore Close 10 the
waters edge was an old boathouse.
used as shed for repairing boats.
This the party silently entered and by
the fickering light Of taper searched
the black interior. At length there was
gentle rattle and from the gloom
emerged Hassan, stripped to the waist,
dragging a heavy chain. THIS. with the
help OF his comrades. he began to pull.
and after an hours laborious work the
end Of the great chain--once the cable
Of q Turkish vessel--was reached.
From the beach the chain was loaded
on board large caique.. whose sides
and floor had been covered with cloth
10 deaden the sound. This task accom-.
plished. three men got In with Hassan
and rowed with muiiled oars toward d
large rock In the middle OF the hight
Round this rock the chain was laid and
securely fastened. One man having
been landed on the crag to keep guard
over this end the boat set out cautious
\ ly for the battleship. looming ike q
phantom In the distance. Not q sound
did the men make as link by link the
massive chain was paid out over the
stern Into the still water till they
reached the vessel.
There was an excited gleam In Has
sans eyes as, with sign to his com
rades, he gradually lowered himself
into the dark water. guiding himself BY
passing his fingers oyer the battleship',
plates, A slight grating Of the chair
against the hull was all that his anxious
companions In the boat heard, though
now and then reassurlng pull wa,
felt on tho line that Hassan held. al
recting them how to pay out the chain
Hours rather than minutes seemed I,
have gone by ere the young ofiicel
came to the surface. So exhausted BY
his long dive was he that he had to b,
almost lifted into the boat. n
ut is round the propeller" he gasp
ed. II have fixed Il so that nothing
can move It. Back you CO."
Then link by link the tedious worl
was renewed until the boat returne,
10 Its starting point. where the othe
end Of the chnln was secured. TIL
risky task was done. and the Helleni
battleship was securely moored to al
immovable rock by a, double thickness
OF cable.
The early rays OF dawn revealed
sight which astonished the Greek com
mander. A whole regiment Of Turk
were on the march toward the strai
OF Arta. with train after train of artil
lery. the last OF which disappeared be
yond the intervening head before th
ships guns could be brought to bca
ON them. The commander gave order
for the guns to be run out md deck
cleared FOR action. while the ancho
was weighed, his Intention being I
prevent the Turks from fortifying tn
strait before they had become to
strong, "Full speed nheadr' went th
order TO the engine room, and, pre-
PEELED by her mighty screw, the ba,
tleship advanced, only to lurch back
ward as II dragged by some unsee
force Work as the engines would
the vessel seemed TO DO in an enchan,
ed circle. beyond which II was impo'
sible to go.
II was not until the suns rays ha
penetrated the deep blue water alonl
side that the secret was revealed an
the massive chain was discovered pass
Ing round the ships propeller and tn
adjacent rock.
Before II could be removed, how
ever the strait hnd been sufficient
fortified by the Turks and power
fn Greek warship my helpless pri'
onor within the landlockcd waters q
J, Arta