The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1917-09-06


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He Sighted Big Vessel Astern Flying
the German Flag.
sight her. 1t shows, though, that the
Sea Slugs are ready to go into action
any time and that they don't have to
have the odds in their favor either.
A Matter Of Luck.
As said before, the catching Of
submarine and it's destruction is great
" matter of luck. Sometimes the
M. LIS cruise around for days without
seeing one, and then perhaps U boat
will pop to the surface within couple
of hundred yards. The most impor-
tant adjunct to luck is an all seeing
eye. One never knows where the peri.
scope is going to stick out above the
surface, and you must be ready at any
second to make it out at any point Of
the compass.
Just how many submarines were
SCOT while l was in England am
not at liberty to say, but can 60 on
record as stating that they are not
easy to get, and the captives are few
er than generally supposed. A vast
number of units are necessary to com
bat them with any degree of success.
Besides being invisible almost at will,
the submarines are manned by men Of
nerve.
The idea prevalent among some peo-
pie that submarine crews are more or
less only sneaks, who strike In the
dark or when there is no danger for
themselves, should be dispelled. The
submarines are operated by men who
fear death not at all and who some
times take staggering chances. If the
British develop one trick that bags a
single submarine they consider it
success. News of English ruses
spreads rapidly in the under water gos-
sip.
q boats have run in a few scant
miles from shore and sunk all sorts of
craft, and they have even tackled de-
strOyers. The British had some very
sad experiences in sending destroyers
on rescue work, after which they used
the NJ. LIS for this purpose. These
make smaller torpedo targets. The
Germans are supposed not to risk U
boats unduly; but, believe me, they do.
talked with the chief engineer and
one of the crew of a British sugar ship
from the West Indies who had been
rescued after being torpedoed.
We were just making Havre," said
the engineer, land we were mighty
glad to get in. The day was remarka-
oily clear, and the water was oily
smooth. We were so close to land we
didn't think there was a chance of
anything attacking us when just at 1
O'Clock In the afternoon a submarine
appeared off our port bow and signaled
us to stop.
We We're armed with q Al gun on
our stern and had navy gunners on
BOARD, so instead Of obeying we turned
Sharply to starboard to present as
small target as possible for torpedo
and opened fire.
Inc first two shots fell short, and
the third went over the u boat. The
way some people talk you would have
expected the submarine to run away.
she didn't do anything Of the kind.
she opened up OH us with gun that
must have been at least three inch
piece, and the second shot hit one Of
our gun mounts. -:E
One man disappeared-actualIy dis
appeared. Either he was knocked into
the sea and sank, or he must have
Deen literally blown to pieces. Anoth-
er poor fellow was killed-just about |
torn In two-and two other men were
put out cold. The captain had to stop |
tnen, because there was nothing left |
to fight with.
we We're so near port that the firing |
must have been heard, and it was al |
most certain something would come |
out to investigate, but the U boat went |
ABOUT finishing the job very method
ically. -
lie German commander ordered us |
INTO Our boats. While we We're lower |
ing away he signaled the captain and |
'ne chief engineer, myself, to come |
alongside the y boat. The first thing |
Ne did was to have our wounded |
brought aboard, and his surgeon at
tended to them. Then he used our