The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-07-25
QUICK ACTION OF. COxSWAIN SAVES SHIP FROM SUB
Stops Engine and Torpedo Misses Destroyer By
 Six Feet

A British Port on Southeast Coast, July 25-Just how British destroyer acts when attacked by submarine was unexpectedly demonstrated to an Associated Press correspondent, while travelling on one of the mod ern oil-driven torpedo boat destroyers from England to France.
 The correspondent had been taken aboard for the purpose of observing British methods of combating the submarine menace, when the boat was suddenly attacked by U-boat, tor pedo missing it by scant six feet thanks to the vigilance and quick action of the crew.
 The destroyer was one of certain number which were conveying in the usual manner, some large transports carrying British troops to France. Tue group of ships was half way across the channel when suddenly .6ne of the lookouts spied a pair or Twin periscopes rise for moment few inches out of the water half -mile away. They were gone next in- stant, but almost before they had xone came the shout: Submarine on port bow" accompanied by shrill call of warning from the destroyer's whistle and the fiuttering of the flag which notified every other ship in the convoy of the enemy's presence.
 On every ship things began to happen. more quickly than the tell ing. Guns were swung in the di- rection in which the perdscope had been seen, ready to sHeak if the periscope appeared again. Torpedo tubes likewise were swung into hne' and the numerous anti-submarine devices along deck were in the nanos of their skilled crews.
 But even while this was done came the torpedo, plainly visible from the deck, it's gleaming brass body gllst- eninz in the bright sunlight, it's pro- peiiers pushing it at express train speed straight toward the destroyer. Something was wrong with the me chanism of this particular torpedo, for it should have travelled 12 or IA feet below the surface. Instead, if came bounding along in plain sight. now and then leaping out Of the water like fiat stone made to skip over the surface.
 Even thus. it might have found its target but for the presence of mind Sof the 6O-year old scoxswain. He had vBeen first to sight the periscopes and had rushed immediately to an emer- < eency lever whereby he instantiy stopped the port engine, thus swing ing the ship with a lurch to the iert. The torpedo whizzed through the uater six feet behind the stern of tht destroyer, its gradually lessening apeed as 1t sank into the swirl Of the engines indicating that its possibih- ties for mischief were nearly done. s Except for the coxswain's action in twisting the ship from it's course the z r,,issile would apparently have made q souare hit in the stern magazine. Meanwhile the wireless was at work notifying the hundreds of pa- trols in all directions that the enemy was near. I've sighted a submarine on the port bow, just off Blank buoy, 1:0s p. m. Torpedo passed just be- hind our stern, missing us. We are proceeding with our convoy, said the captains messag.
 Tt was caught simultaneously. ashore and afioat, by hundred yigf- Iant wireless operators. The destroy CTS captain, according to his orders, must not leave his convoy to seek out ana attack the submarine. Others would attend to that. Already they were gathering for the chase-trawl- 6rs, chasers, driftere, destroyers, even dirigible airship far off on the hori- xon had caught the wireless call, and with the quick turn of sea gull was sweeping down to the pursuit.
 The transports and destroyers, al- though fairly confident that the U- boat would scarcely dare show her. self again. even for a pot shot, were nevertheless taking every precaution. Every ship was at full speed, oil- Burning GestroyerH constantly pro- tecting their charges
 The whole attack occupied bare sec onds Convoy and charges were out of range in a few minutes at the most. Nowhere had there been the slightest panic or furry, but move nents of men and ships were made with almost automatic precision and speed. The efficiency of the British naval man is the efficiency of clock work. Every cog knows its place There is no meddling. no clashing, na interference. but confident rapid eff. fciency which somehow demands the use of the adjective deadly"
 Twenty minutes later the transp orti were safe in their port of destination and the destroyers were off again, 3t miles down the coast, to its next ap. pointment.
 Meanwhile the business of seekine out the enemy was going on in the fleet of submarine hunters which had gathered around blank buoy" Jus how the work was done. and just wha was the result, 1t is not permitted tt tell.