New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-27

marine and oil upon many troubled
waters.
Many queer transformations have
been brought about by this war, Tor
there are not only longshore fisher
men in naval uniform, but there arc
also-many mysteries, of which
will say no more. Suffice 1T that a
thing which looks like battleship
may be comparative harmless by the
side of thing which looks IKE
Noah's Ark. There are more ways
Of producing moral effect than were
dreamed of in German philosophy,
and il is enough to say that certain
mysteries have made German war
ships run like hares from a boat
that was harmless as mouse. Even
the little knowledge that they pos
sess perplexes them, for they are
confronting the most terrible DUN
in the gamble of war, the bluff that
is backed by realities. Passengers
on American and neutral liners
with their flags flying, but-oh, wise
precaution-their RATS ready ana
their boats well stocked with food
and water. have seen them heav-
ing a sigh of content at the sight OF
n British man-of-war that was not
really man-of war at all, foamlng
ahead of them; while all around
from skyline to skyline the sea was
dotted with insignificant and hardly
noted brown-sailed craft-the ships
of Drake and Hawkins, loaded with
unimagined thunderbolts, the world
patrolling battle fleets of England.
Keep Sea in All Weathers.
And the crews of the "auxiliarles'
must indeed be seamen, for they
must keep the seas in all weathers,
in craft despite their sturdiness
more in rough weather like buck
jumping ponies. Let the great ships
that 60 sailing by on Christmas Day
remember the Christmas of the Van
Stirum.
This yarn also. was told to me. in
the waters where it happened, while
the trawlers were shooting their
deadly nets.
On Christmas Day, 1918, the Van
Stirum, a steamer of 1890 tons net,
on a voyage from Rouen TO Liver
pool, was nearing home. She was IN
ballast and unarmed and carried a
crew of forty-siX officers and men.
\ heavy southwest swell was run
ming. but the weather was fine and
il was possible to see for distance
of at least eight miles. At about
! :35 p. m, without any warning, the
Van Stirum was attacked by two
German submarines. They were not
observed until they had approached
TO within half a mile Of the vessel.
This may be due to the fact that
they were painted a curious color
black and white horizontal stripes.
One submarine then opened fire.
Three shots were fired in quick sue
ocssion. but they all fell short. The
Van Stirum Immediately altered
course and at the same time sent out
distress call-"Van Stirum chased
by two submarines; position criti-
cal; firing shots and gaining on us
Overhauled by U-Boats.
After the first attack the engine
room telegraphs were rung up to
full speed" The vessel increased
from thirteen to fifteen knots and
very slowly drew ahead of her ad-
versaries, who had stopped. The
ace. very uneven one, was kept up
for three-quarters of an hour, when
the submarines, which later devel-
oped a speed on the surface of about
eighteen knots, again opened fire.
One shell struck the ship on the star
board quarter and another brought
down the wireless aerials. The lat
ter, lucky shot, cut the vessel en-
tirely off from the outside world.
Realizing his helplessness, unable
t. observe any friendly patrol vessel
and knowing quite well that few
more shots would effectually stop his
vessel, the master decided to aban-
don his ship, and at 2:30 p. m. prep
arations were made to leave. At
2:35 p. m. the vessel was stopped.
At this time one submarine was ly-
ing right under the port quarter.
Killed in Leaving Boat.
The crew left in the port and star
board lifeboats, two of the men re-
naming on board to lower away.
While they were endeavoring to get
the two men off the submarine fired
a torpedo, which passed under the
partly lowered boat and struck the
ship abreast the engine room. One
man was blown to pieces by the
force of the explosion wv. A. Belan-