The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-07-26
CALAMITY OF THE SEA.

The official account of the tWO-hOur bat
tie between the American tank steamer
Moreni and a Germna submarine on June
TO- Just made public by the navy depart
mcnt, is one of those unassumlng tales OF
heroism. so common nowadays, that make
the exploits Of fiction as uninteresting as a
census report by contrast
Andrew COpassaki chief bQatswain's
mate. in charge of the naval armed guard
on the Moreni. is the author of the report.
After describing the voyage up to the day
Of the supreme test. he tells of the fight
which began at 4 :05 a. m. on June u. The
submarine fired several shots bct>re she
could be picked up when the AIoren swung
stern-on and began to reply. Copassaki
continues:
after hafhour fight in the gasoline
tank aft, and stared reported to me that
the ammunition running Immediately lined
up the forward guns merchant crew to
pass ammunition from forward aft About an hour
later fire broke ship It became i'm
possible for the men to pass ammunition aft,
the mainmast. and called o. guns
to 30 forward with me. I reached the bridge being
burned the The man was unable to follow.
About this time the steering gear away.
started to around in circles
Coming down off the bridge. captain
and the 5oatswain, who holding ready to
lower the hfeboat The captain said get
In the Hfeboat. starting to burn / told him
wait He sair he would hold the long as
possible for
Passing ammunition through the flames
to tight d ship out of range! The very life
| boats were beginning to burn, and still the
crew would not cease firing. Spirits of
Grenvile and John Paul Jones, surely We
must have eNulted!
Copassaki continues:
"I then two of the guns crew in the life
! on me
We went forward and manned the gun with
which the firing pin went
commission
When the submarine fire coming
not her Then could more. and as
| the captain called that the Hfeboat burning we
got into the boat. Meanwhile the ship
! had been stopped and she going around circles
which she continued to do for about half
we left
The hfeboat upset when it hit the two
of the merchant ere" were lost We swan around
and climb
Had the firing pin not gone out of com
mission, the crew would no doubt have
stayed until escape was mpossblc-hghc~
Ing not for victory, because their ship was
a pillar of fame running wid-doomed nc
matter what issue-but for duty,
THE submarine the boats alongside and
congratulated shook wit captain. and
told us that it was the best fight they had
any merchantmen put He asked if there were
mans treated two men who had been wounded and
turned to the other boats
All battle tends towards the chivalrous
The tWo-hour fight in which nearly 40(
rounds OF ammunition Wexe exchanged hat
brought out the noblest in both sides, anc
it will be forever to the credit of that Ger
man commander that he disobcycd his ir
structions to murder the men who stoo,
Tor their rights.
Had the Moren not signaIled for her
the submarine commander explained, h
would have given the boats tow, re t
do SO now would be fraught with needles
danger, and would be unnecessary beside,
! So he took his leave from the Americans
friends in the truest sense: friendship Q
spirit, such as caused Saladin to send snol
to save the life of his earthly enemy, Ricl
, ard Lion Heart.