The patriot. [volume] (Indiana, Pa.) 1914-1955, 1917-07-21
A Bluff In
The Aegean Sea
By F. A. Mitchell

European war I commanded a 1000
ton tramp steamer called the Ajax.
1 left Smyrna in August, 1915, with
a cargo of rugs and other Asiatic
goods for the port of New York. l
was obliged to steam through the
Greek archipelago, which 1 knew af-
forded fine nesting for corsairs. did
not fear Greeks, but dreaded Asiatics
from the opposite eastern coast If /
could get through to the open Mediter-
ranean sea would feel a reasonable
expectation of getting my cargo to
America and large profit.
One day while passing between two
Greek islands I was called from the
noon meal by the lookout, who report
ed a small craft resembling a tug put
ting out from a cove and steering O
course with the evident intention to
head us of. Through my glass / saw
that she carried the German flag.
Now, l did not believe that any Ger
man craft would be sailing In those
waters, which were occupied by the
allied fleets, especially the British. II
this one were really German was OF
the opinion that she was tender for
a submarine. However, could only
wait and learn. I kept on my course,
watching in every direction for peri
scope, till the tug-for such she proved
to ,be-was close on to my bows.
Through my glass I could see on her
deck a number of men IN sailor cos
tune who might be in the German
service; but, judging from their
swarthy complexions, they were Ash
atics.
One man who appeared to be COM
mander wore the uniform Of a Ger
man naval officer, but believed he
had obtained it without having COM
mission. He was whittier than his men
and might have been a European. One
thing noticed particularly-there was
no appearance Of cannon. Whatever
armament there was doubtless consist
ed of such weapons as could be WELD
ed by individuals. However, while l
looked port was opened and the nose
Of little barker appeared. 1t was as
terrifying as a bull pup. did not be-
neve it could sink us, though it might
put our machinery out of commission.
With its appearance the commander
Of the tug called through a megaphOne
something in German which one of my
men who understood the language
thought to be a demand for surren-
der A submarine was ready to blow
us out of water. We were given ten
minutes to take to the boats.
Never was there a more palpable
case of bluff. There was no subma-
rine, nothing which could be relied OF
to sink us. We were In danger of be.
ing boarded and Overpowered by Asiat-
ic pirates playing the submarine act.
Though l was not deceived, l confess
it looked to me that the only chance
for our lives was to take to the boats
and leave our cargo to the pirates.
There were a few small arms aboard,
but not enough Of them or men to use
them to put up an adequate defense.
But we had means Of defense that
l had often thought of using in case
Of being attacked by the small enemies
that infest certain Asiatic coasts.
determined to try it now. l had plen-
ty Of hose, and l ordered it attached
to the steam cocks Of the boiler. There
were two hose which could be used
separately. 1 asked for more time
from the pirate and was told that not
a minute would be granted. So l or,
dered the men to pretend to begin
the work of lowering the boats, and
they made a great ado with the ropes,
but accomplished nothing. During the
few minutes they were thus engaged
we were attaching the hose to the
boiler and running the nozzles on deck,
where they were hidden under the
gunwale. When all was ready l or
dered the men away from the boats,
and word was shouted to the pirate
that if he wanted our ship to come
and take it or If he intended to blow
US up to do so.
This was evidently not in his calcu-
lations There was a conference among
them; then we could see arms brought
on deck. 1t was evident that they in
tended to board US. Meanwhile they
ran up against us and We're about to
lash to us when l took a hose and,
pointing it down at them, sent a
stream Of scalding water among them,
which caused them to desist and get
out Of range as soon as possible.
A number of them had been scalded
just enough to make them furious
with pain, and, after taking time tG
consider they launched a rowboat car
Tied on their deck and manned it, and
while the tug came under our bows
the rowboat approached our stern.
There was some protection for them
both fore and aft, but as soon as a
man appeared at either point he re-
eeived a dose of steam that sent him
bowling back, and some of them were
knocked into the brine.
This plan having failed, both board
ing parties retreated and, joining forces
on the tug, began to pepper us with
their little barker. l sent men below
to plug holes that might be made un-
der water; but, fearing damage to our
hOilo, which vDu1d Y,11t ne pt tbeir