Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-08-23
LAST SHELL GONE,
CAMPANA GAVE Up
Survivors Say Tanker Fired 1870
Shots at U.BOat before
Surrender.

An AtldntlC BOrt, Aug. 2-Ine STANDARD
OIL tank steamer Campana, whose captain
and fve Of the navy gunners were taken
prisoner by a German submarine on
August 6, surrendered to the U-boat but
only because she had not another shot to
fire. The Campana's ammunition after
firing $50 shots became exhausted.
This was the story told by j. II. Bruce,
third mate Of the Campana, who with 40
other members of the Campana's crew and
eight gunners arrived here to-day on a
French steamship. The battle began at
800 a. m. and ragged for four hours at
range Of 1900 and 1900 yards.
The U-boat fired 400 shots only two Of
which hit the mark. The Campana never
theless was outranged by the two guns.
one four-inch the other two-inch with
which the submarine was armed. The
U-boat also was fully as speedy as the
American vessel.
After the Campana hoisted the inter-
national signal of surrender, her last shell
gone, the submarine nevertheless con-
tinued to fire. Bruce said and all hands
took to the boats.
The U-boat commander first approached
the boat commanded by Bruce, which
had aboard the Campana's ID naval gum
ners. and ordered II alongside. He then
went to the lifeboat occupied by Capt.
Albert oliver of the Campana and took
him prisoner.
Having room enough only for six addi-
tional men aboard his craft, the German
skipper made only five of the gunners
prisoners, Bruce said. These included the
chief gunner and two petty officers. Ono
Of the gunners. whose name was Miller,
was included because he could speak
German.
~, q n
did not learn the commanders name.
The German told him. he said. that he
had first fired torpedo at the Campana,
but had missed. the projectile apparently
passing under the steamship.
The Campana was sent to the bottom
by bombs after her crew had been al
lowed to return and get their personal
effects.
Directions we're given to Bruce by the
submarine commander how to reach the
nearest port. He told him at the same
time that he had heard wireless messages
exchanged by two French war vessels
in the vicinity and warned him not to
allow himself to be picked UP by them.
II am going to sink them" he said.
Bruce and his men nevertheless took
the chance. encountering a French war;
ship after floating about in small boats
took them aboard and landed them in
France. Bruce said he was told by an
officer Of the war vessel that he had heard
wireless message from another cruiser.
saying that 1t had sunk German subma-
rine in the vicinity of the place where the
Campana had been sunk. Bruce said 1t
was only a matter Of conjecture as to
whether this was the submarine that at
tackled his vessel. but If true he feared Il
meant that Captain Oliver and his gun.
ners had persisted.
when Captain Oliver and the other
prisoners went below on the submarine"
| said Bruce, they bid us good bye and
the U-boat captain assured me they would
be treated as prisoners of war and landed
in a few days at a German base. whore
the captain said they would be given
every opportunity to send word home to
| their families. I was allowed to take 4
personal message from Captain Oliver tc
be delivered to his wife.
1.-The bluejackets with us were a game
lot.
when the last she'll was gone, they
would have tackled the Germans with
their revolvers had the word beer
passed to them. 1t would have been q
useless sacrifice Of life. however, as the
Germans had us at their mercy.
THE captain said his instruction.
were to take all American gunners and
captains of armed ships prisoners. He
said, however. he was sorry the United
States was in the war because he hated
to fight Americans as he had always
found them friendly and good sports
Americans, he said, will always tight to
a finish. He had no use for the French
or the English, though, especially the
English.
"The captain said he had been out a
long time and had sunk number OF
ships, but did not name them. He told
of meeting a fishing vessel which he
thought was English because 1t was
within the war zone. He fred on her
whereupon the ship hoisted the Spanish
flag. His shot had crippled her, how
ever. and she went down. The U-boa'
captain. however. rescued the crew ant
put them on another Spanish ship the
next day. One Of the Spaniards wa!
wounded and the captain said he treat
ed him whit the submarines surgica
supplies"
The names Of the gunners taken pris
oner were: James Delaney. chief gun
ner's mate: William Millor. seaman
Fred Jacobs. seaman: Ray Roop, boat
swain's mate. second class; and Charles
Kline, gunner's mate