The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-08-25
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AMERICAN TANK STEAMER
FOUGHT WITI SUBMARINES
Till BER AMMUNITION
GAVE OUT.


Z An Atlantic Port. Aug. 22.-nThe
standard on tank steamer Campana.
whose captain and Ave of her navy
gunnsrs were taken prisoners by a
German submarine on August 1, sur
rendered TO the U-boat hut only be-
cause she had not another shot to
are. The Cnmpana's ammunition after
nrins $50 shots. became exhausted. ,
This was tho story told by ]. II.
Hruce. third mate OF the Campana,
who. with forty other members of the
Campana's crew and eight gunners,
arrived here today on French
steamship. The battle began at 5 a.
IN. and was wased for four hours at
q range of between 1900 and $500
yards. /tr
The U-boat fred 400 sho,s. only two
Of which hit the mark. The Campana
nsvertheless was outranged by the
two gums anil one four-inch. the 9th
sr two inches. with which the sub
marine was armed. The U-boat also
VAS fully as speedy as the American
vessel. t
AFTER the Campana hoisted the in
tsrnational' signal of surrender her
last sheli gone. the submarine never
thsless continued to fire. Bruce said.
and all hands took to the boats.
1.-The ,p-koat commander first ap-
. proached tho boat commanded by
Hruce. which had aboard the Cam
pana's thirteen naval gunners. and
ordered II alongside. He then went
q the lifeboat occupied by Capt
Albert Oliver of the Campana and
took him priaoner.
Having room enough only for six
additional men aboard his craft. the
German skipper made only Ave of the
eunners prisoners. Bruce said. These
Included the chief gunner and two
petty officers. One OF the gunners.
whose name was Miller. was included
because ne could speak German.
The submarine was the U-2. Bruce
dId not learn the commanders namc.
The Germans told him. ne said. that
he had nrst fred a torpedo at the
csmpana but Il had missed. the pro-
lsctile apparently passing under tho
((eamship.
The Campana was sent to the bot
pm by bombs after her crew had bccn
allowed TO return and get their per-
Aonal effects. Directions were given
tp Bruce by the submarine command
er how to reach the nearest port. lie
told him at tho same time that he
tad heard wireless messages ex-
changed by two French war vessels
o. the vicinity and warned him not
% allow himself to be picked up by
them.
Il am going to sink them." he
aid.
Bruce and his men nevertheless
tbok the chances. encountering a
French warship after floating about In
small boats until o'clock that night
The warship took them aboard and
Rnded them In France. Bruce said
Ne was told by an officer Of the war
Nessel that he had heard a message
rom another French cruiser saying
that u had sunk a German submarine
IN the vicinity of the place where
the Campana had been sunk. Bruce
shid II was only a matter of con-
lecture an to whether this was the
submarine that attacked his vessel
hut II true ne feared IL meant that
Capt. Oliver and his gunners had
uBrished.
when Capt. Oliver and the other
lrisoners went below on the sub
tharine." said Bruce. "they bid us
toodbye and the u-boat captain as
5,red me they would be treated as
prisoners Of war and landed In a few
4nw mt n German base. where tho
<RptaIn said they would be given
Tery opportunity to send word home
- their families. I was allowed TO
fkc n personal message from Capt
oliver to be delivered to his wife.
"rhe bluejacktts with US were n
aanne lot. When the last shell had
gone they would have tackled the
Germans with their revolvers. II
you'd have been useless sacrifice
sf life. however. as the Germans had
M at their mercy.
The captain said his instructions
Esre to take all American Gunncrs
1nd captains OF armed ships prison
frs. He said. however. nc was sorry
lhe United states was In the war be-
~ouaa ha bataa a. A.. ., -