Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-30
GUNNERS OF NAVY
PROTECT SHIPPING


Continued from First rage.)
adrift. When gave the order the
navy men abandoned ship. some jump
tho falls. They were swimming in the
water. but after half an hour OF hard
work ali hands were picked up.
The ship wae turning in s circle
and the engines had not been stopped
Il was some time before they stopped
OF their own accord, and the ship lost
her Roadway.
After the ship was hopelessly lost
and the crew in the boats. the sub
marine came alongside the third Of
;icer's boat and asked us in English the
name of the vessel. her tonnage and
who her owners were. The COM
mandcr was masked and wore auto
goggles. lie then fired two shots into
the engine-roorn to hasten the sinking
and then steamed away on the surface.
The captains boat was picked UP
by a Spanish trawler and the chief Of
ticcr's boat LANDED in Morocco after
three days. This boat was fred on by
an armed ship, twelve shells being shot
4; it, probably installing il for q sub.
marine. The third officers boat was
picked UP by an English steamer. which
was afterwards engaged by sub
marine armed with two guns. The
steamer was hit twice. but escaped by
means OF her smoke screen and speed.
The three United States Navy gun
ners. who had been in the li:eboat.
assisted the British Gunners during
the action. which lasted until the sub
marine had fired thir;y-siS shells. Our
gurners were warmly praised by the
captain of the vessel in his report 10
the Admiralty. After landing they
were sent home il another British
steamer and stood watch and watch
with these English Sunncre during the
voyage.
The chiet officer ii our own tanker
which was ;orr"Gocd had been formerly
a chief EUnncr's mate in the American
navy. Tic was - great assistance !.
was also duo to his scamanship and
the navy ety!s of rigging the life
boats that We were successful in get
ting them away. There was only one
American sailo! in The foveras;!s, and
he had = Gishcaorable discharge from
the navy. There were TO Americans
in the firencas CHARTERS The crew
'"hS!eteH 81 Irf"IsS, HDeIiGrdS. fcl-
lsnde.s and SwsGcS When the gem
cval alarm was sounded. these peopl.
dropped everything and Sew .or the
iifehoa;s. To sop this gave loaded
pistols TO til" captain. the chief officer
and the chief engineer On watch
OMITTED MENTIoN OF
HARDsHIrs ENCOUNTERED
The gunner who wrote the reu,o-:
omitted to mention tina; these l.:rhoa;s
containing - ,cea and III. ships
crew Were 200 milcs from the nearest
land. By Gods mercy they managed
20 escape fourde7in: or starvation and
4 favorins breeze enabled them 10
hos; sail and 80 tighten tho ;as. ..
bending a. tho hcav% oars. They lived
on tho rat:Cns which were stored in
the boats against such ar emergency.
a slim allowance. bus enough 10 keep
body and soul together. The r.osr
Sricrous hardship was shortage OF 70.
"arco one man had !i,;!. in a bag.
80 they dried II on i thw-rt and do,.a
out rinchcs. which were rolled into
cigarettes ard smoke! u the !4s, a..
while STUCK on knife blades.
Tn" :nc.dcu, %. The American a.a
7
ign, Of. q submarine vas The .-s. o..
the Kind - the va . t!t @: --al rs
tory in Wy l: proclaimed thu.
once again blood Is thicker than
water" IS Co,-,rcGo-. TsGal! d-cia-es
"Aen he :sd eas.=a and tae Stars
and STRIPS few ,gs.,A.- : 49,. 90
~" >''' 80
-Ae'- '-c5'1s :. sinking ana drown
'hs 10y BE e.ca o:Ae- . certain
@'I;.s. -: hey A.l7 - d-.,. nome
- "-;A T-.-1 tb- ..in.-. an people
H-s' rt.-!y I'm - .he-nse!v..
-A"s+ go - and :a--1ers ~ directed
~ - "a.ra ms cis4e-!-t ali the
..-'s:es sad p-see2;s o.. f.srsnI,~.
a@s+ morals sr@ ;aos@ o: ~ Darl:
-s="' which is trnt l-.a celebrating
.'--iz-i-ea -:--,, IT, tory Il III.
--'.-FT ~ ne American steamer
80 s1Es-f; 2As. Oar.
-'*'t2m q. tho