Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-06-01
Two British Destroyers Defeat
Six Enemy Ships in Eng
IiSh Channel.
JOHN PAUL JONES THRILLER
Fight Man to Man with Cutlasses and
Pistols as Boats Are Locked To-
qether-WiIl Live Long In
Naval History.

patrol duty in the English Channel on
Dover on the night of April 20 came
upon a flotilla of six German destroy
ers. There ensued an encounter which
will live long in the history of naval
engagements.
German destrOyerS were tOrpedoed
and rammed; every gun aboard the
was working, sweeping
the decks and tearing gaps in the
sides of the opposing craft. There was
the locking together of British and
German destroyer, and the men fought
furiously in hand-to-hand battle.
German seamen of rammed de-
strOyer climbed aboard one of the Brit
ish boats, and a midshipman fought
them back with an automatic pistol.
They were killed or driven again to
the sea by British jackies who came
to the midshipman's aid.
CutIasses and Bayonets.
The British destroyers were the
Swift and the Broke, and although
they received many wounds they re-
turned to port.
The story of the engagement, COM
piled from the accounts of officers and
men, has been made public in the form
of an official report. 1t is an exciting
and graphic story of a boarding en-
counter with cutlasses and bayOnets,
recalling the days when wooden war
ships came together and the men
fought on the decks.
The British destroyer leaders. Swift
and Broke, on night patrol, were
steaming westerly course. 1t was
intensely dark, but calm. The Swift
sighted the enemy at GOO yards. and
the Germans instantly opened fire.
There were six German destroyers, ac-
cording to German prisoners. The
Swift replied >and tried to ram the
leading enemy destroyer. 1t missed
ramming, but shot through the German
line unscathed and, in turning, neatly
torpedoed another boat in the enemy
line.
Again the Swift dashed at the lead
er, which again eluded it and fled, with
the Swift in pursuit.
Broke Bags Another Foe.
In the meantime the Broke had
launched q torpedo at the second boat
in the line, which hit the mark, and
then opened fire with every possible
gun. The remaining German boats
were stocking furiOusly for full speed
The Broke's commander swung
round to port and rammed the third
boat fair and square abreast the after
funnel. Locked together thus the two
boats fought desperate hand-to-hand
conflict. The Broke swept the enemy'f
deck at point-blank range with every
gun from main armament to pompom
Maxim, rifle, and pistol.
Two other German destroyers at
tackled and poured devastating fire or
the Broke, whose foremost gun crews
were reduced from eighteen to siz
men. Midshipmen Donald Gyles, al
though wounded In the eye, kept al
the foremost guns in action, he him
self assisting the depleted crews tC
load.
Meets Foe Single Handed.
While he was thus employed, a mum
Der of frenzied Germans swarmed w
over the Broke's fOrecastle out of the
rammed destroyer, and, finding them
selves amid the binding flashes Of
forecastle guns, swept aft in a shout
ing mob.
The midshipman, amid the dead ant
wounded of his own gun crews, ant
half blinded by blood. met the Onse
single handed with an automatic pts
toll. He was grappled by a German
who tried to wrest the revolver away
Cutlasses and bayonets being amOnl
the British equipment in anticipation
of such an event, the German wal
promptly bayoneted by Seaman Ingle
son. The remainder Of the invaders
except two who feigned death, wer'
driven over the side, the two beini
taken prisoner.
Two minutes after ramming, tn
Broke wrenched itself free from 1T
adversary and turned to ram the las
of the three remaining German boats
It failed in this object, but In swing
ing around succeeded in hitting tn
boats consort on the stern with a tor
pedo.
Holly engaged with these two fee
ing destroyers, the Broke attempted t
follow the Swift In the direction 1t wa
last seen, but shell struck the Broke
boiler room, disabling its main engines
The enemy then disappeared in tn
darkness. The Broke, altering 1T
course, headed in the direction Of ,
destroyer, which a few minutes late
was seen to be heavily afire and who's
crew, on sighting the British destroy
er, sent up shouts for mercy. Tn
Broke steered slowly toward the Ger
man, regardless Of the danger from
possible explosion Of the magazines
and the German seamen redouble'
their shouts of "Save! Save" ant
then Unexpectedly opened fire.
The Broke, being out of control, wa
unable to maneuver to extricate Itself
but silenced the treachery with fou
rounds; then, to insure its own safety
torpedoed the German amidships.
Swift Seeks New Quarry.
Meanwhile the Swift continued 1t
MYSTERY IN SOLDIERS TRuNl