The evening world., 1917-05-03
THREE SUBMARINES
IN RAID TOGETHER
Off BRITISH COAST
One a Cruiser 800 Feet Long;
Another Disguised as
Fishing Vessel.

LONDON, May s.-American citi-
zens landed during tho last few days
from vessels which had been sunk by
German submarines tell remarkable
tales OF the strenuous exploits OF the
| u boats. In one case three under-sca
| boats appeared simultaneously along
side the ship. one being a submarine
cruiser 400 feet long and the others
old fashioned submarines with
| length OF about 120 feet.
A seaman from Pensacola. who was
a member OF the crew OF a Swedish
sailing vessel, said:
we were almost within sight OF
land late In the afternoon when we
observed n Norwegian sailing vessel
In an encounter with q submarine
eight miles away Apprchendlng that
our turn would come next, we pre-
pared a llfeboat. A 500 foot subma-
rlne came Up 10 us In due course
and fired three warning shots from
Its heavy gun.
1--WE pulled our boat over 70 the
/ lifeboat from the Norwegian ship
/ previously sunk and n dozen hours
later were picked up by British
steamer. We had only a brief stay
! on the British boat, as she was tor
| pedoed tho same morning After n
/ few hours In the boats We were found
by a British patrol and landed"
I'VE abandoned ship" said Il Balti-
more seaman from n Danish sailing
vessel, I'm response TO three shots
, from "A submarine. Thereupon the
submarine fired twenty-five shots into
the hull OF the ship, sinking her. We
tried to speak with the submarine
commander but he told us no was In
a hurry, as he had TO attend to a
/ Norwegian bark which was wait ng II
short distance of. We pulled for the
men got ashore safely, although both
lifebOats were badly smashed UP in
the surf as we were beaching them"
\ Philadelphlan described the man
ner In which his steamer escaped be-
ing sunk.
I'VE were attacked by n submarine
disguised AS fishing vessel" he said
she opened fire on us at five miles
sending fifteen shots at us and smash
ing our wireless She pursued us for
| an hour. We did not Use our gun
Finally a British patrol boat appeared.
The submarine submerged disguise
and all, presenting a ludicrous sight
rs the carefully prepared equipment
stimulating "a fishing boat sank be-
nea n the waves"
The Captain OF nm American sailing
ship which was sunk ten days ago
said:
Submarines are lying along the
sea lanes In regular nests. They keep
well under the water most OF the
time by thus conserving fuel the
submarines are able to remain away
from their base Il long time and, also
they find means OF renewing their
stores from ships which they sink.
The u boat which sank us had
been out for six weeks She hnd n0C
British Captain on board. She re-
newcd all her supplies from our Dot.
and took all the nautical Instruments
The submarine gave us IA sharp sig
nal 10 halt with a shell from a dis.
; tance OF two miles II was good
, Workmanship. The shot hit the shiJ
squarely. but caused no casualties
We stopped and took 60 the boats"
= Tho submarine came up in leisurelN
fashion. sank the ship with bombs
O and passed tho time OF day with ou
. | boats She had n crew OF thirty
seven and was 250 feet long.
: I'VE were picked up by a Nor
/ wegian sailing vessel, on which W,
4. spent six days. She was then at
tackled by "a IoO- foot submarine. w
all took 10 the Norwegian's boats
10 The submarine commander declined Il
d look at the Norwegian captain
papers. We had another twenty
> four hours In open boats ana the
T. were picked up by British patrc
o and landed"