The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-08-23
U. 5. S. CAMPANA.
LAST SHELL GONE.
LOSES FOUR HOUR
BATTLE With SUB
U-Boat Fired 400 Shots,
Only Two Reaching
The Mark
CAPTAIN AND
GUNNERS TAKEN
Commander Said They
Would Be Treated as
War Prisoners
fBr Associated Press.l

CBy Associated Press.)
An Atlantic Port, Aug. 23.-The
Standard Oil tank steamer. Campana
whose captain and FIVE of her navy
gunners were taken prisoners by a
German submarine Aug. surrend-
cred to the U-boat only because she
had not another shot to fire. She
used $50 shots.
The battle according to ]. II. Bruce
third mate began at o'clock a. m,
and lasted four hours. The U-boat
fired 400 shots. two Of which reach
ed the mark. The submarines guns
outranged those of the tanker. After
the Campana hoisted the interna-
tional signal Of surrender, her last
shell gone, the submarine continued
to fire. Bruce said all hands took to
the life boats.
Having room enough only for six
additional men aboard his craft, the
German skipper made only flve of
the gunners prisoners, Bruce said,
These included the chief gunner and
two petty officers. One of the gum
ners, whose name was Miller, was
included because he could speak
German.
The submarine was the U-2. Bruce
did not learn the commanders name.
The German told him, he said. that
he had first fired a torpedo at the
Campana but had missed, the pro-
pectile apparently passing under the
steamship.
Sunk BY Bombs.
The Campana was sent to the bot
tom by bombs after her crew had
been allowed to return to get their
personal effects. Directions were
given 70 Bruce by the submarine
commander how to reach the nearest
port. He told him at the same time
he had heard wireless messages ex-
in the vicinity and warned him not
to allow himself to be picked up by
them.
Il am going to sink them, he said.
Bruce and his men nevertheless
took the chance encountering a
French warship after floating about
In small boats until 8 o'clock that
night. The warship took them
aboard and landed them in France.
Bruce said he was told by. an officer
of the war vessel that he had heard
a wireless message from another
French cruiser, saying that II mad
sunk a German submarine in the
vicinityof the place where the Cam
pana had been sunk.
Bruce said 1t was only a matter of
conjecture as to whether this was
the submarine that attacked his ves-
sci but If true he feared it meant
that Captain Oliver and his gunners
had perished.
Prisoners Of War.
when Captain Oliver and the 9TH
er prisoners went below on the
submarine, said Bruce. they bade
us goodbye and the U-boat captain
assured me they would be treated as
prisoners of war and landed in a
few days at a German base. where
the captain said they would be given
every opportunity to send wcrd home
to their families. was allowed to
take a personal message from Cap
tain Oliver to be delivered to his
wife.
"The Bluejackets with us were a
game lot. When the last shell had
gone they would have tackled the
Germans with their revolvers had
the word been passed to them. II
would have been useless sacrifice of
life, however, as the Germans had
US at their mercy.
Hated To Fight Americans.
'sThe captain said his instructions
were to take all American gunners
and captains of armed ships prison.
srs. He said however he was sorry
the United States was in the war be-
cause he hated to fight Americans
as he had always found them friend
" and good sports. Americans he
said, will always fight to a finish. He
had no use for the French or the
English though, especially English.
THE captain said he had been out
! long time and had sunk a number
II ships but did not name them. He
old OF meeting fishing vessel which
he thought was English because 1t
vas within the war zone. He fired
IN her, whereupon the ship hoisted
he Spanish flag. His shots had
crippled her however, and she went
Town. The U-boat captain rescued
he crew and put them on another
Spanish ship the next day. One of
he Spaniards was wounded and the
.aptain said he treated him with the
Ipbmarine's surgical supplies.
The names Of the gunners taken
prisoners were:
James Delaney, chief gunners'
nate: William Miller, seaman; Fred
Tacobss seaman; Ray Roop, boat
Iwains mate; second class. and
Sharless Kline, gunners mate.