The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-04-19
A Bluff In
The Aegean Sea
BY F. A. Mitchell

4 lamp Steamer called the Ajax
leIt smyrna in August, 1915. with
cargo of rugs and other Asiatic
goods for the port of New York. 1
was obliged TO steam through the
Oreek archipelago. which | knew eff
Iorded line nesting for corsairs. | did
not fear Greeks, but dreaded Asiatlcs
from the opposite eastern coast. If
could get through to the open Mediter
ranean sea | would feel a reasonable
expectation OF getting my cargo to
America and large profit.
One day while passing between two
Greek Islands | was called from the
noon meal 10y the lookout, who report
Ell small craft resembling tug put
ting out from a cove and steering
course with the evident intention to
head us of. Through my glass | saw
that she carried the German flag.
Now. dld not believe that any Ger
man craft would be sailing in those
waters. which were occupied 10y the
allied Heels especially the British. If
this one were really German | was of
the opinion that She was IA tender for
a submarine. However, | could only
wait and laru kept on my course.
watching la every direction for peri
scope Till III tus-for such size proved
Ia he-WaS cip~e on 10 my bows
Through my glass I could see on her
derk a number Of men ia sailor cos
TUNE who might Ice In the German
service, hut judging from their
swarthy umpcviouS. they were Ash
atic~
one man who appeared 10 he com
mander wore the uniform of Ger
man naval officer. but | believed he
had obtained it without having "A com
mission. lie was whittier than his men
and might have been IA European One
thing ! noticed particularly there was
no appearance of cannon. Whatever
armament there was doubtless consist
ed of such weapons as could be WELD
ed by individuals. However, while |
looked port was opened and the nose
of n little barker appeared. 1t was as
terrifying as a bull pup. | did not be
lieve II could sink us, though 1t might
put our machinery out of commission.
With its appearance the commander
OF the tug called through a megaphonc
something In German which one of my
men who understood the language
thought to be Il demand for surren-
1ar 4 St1llr fn
us out of water. We were given ten
minutes to take 10 the boats.
Never was there Il more palpahl,
case of BLUM There was no subma
rlne. nothing which could be relied OF
to sink us We We're IN danger OF be
ing boarded ana oyerpowered 10y Asiat
ic pirates playing the submarine act
/ Though ! was not deceived, | confes,
1t looked Ia me that the only chanc,
/ for our lives was to take to the boat
/ There were few small arms aboard
/ but not enough of them or men to us,
them to put UP an adequate defense
But we had means OF defense tina
/ | had often thought Of using in cas-,
Of being attacked by the small enemie
that inieSt certain Asiatlc coasts
determined to try it now. had plen
ty of hose. and | ordered ii attached
to the steam cocks Of the boiler Their,
were two hose which could be use'
separately | asked for more tim
from the pirate and was told that no
minute would he granted. So | OF
dered the men TO pretend To begil
the work of lowering the boats, an
they made n great ado with the ropes
but accomplished nothing. During TIA
few minutes they We're thus engages
We were attaching the hose TO tn
boiler and running the MOBILES on deck
where they were hidden under III
gunwale When all was ready ] ol
dered the men away from the boat'
and word was shouted To the pirat
that if he wanted our ship to com
and take it or If he intended to bloN
us up to do 50.
This was evidently not in his ealcl
lations. There was a conference anon
them. then We could see arms brough
ON deck. IL was evident that they IL
tended to board us. Meanwhile the
ran up against us and were about [
lash to us when took a hose ant
Mounting ii down at them, sent
stream Of scalding water among then
which caused them to desist and 81
out of range as soon as possible.
A number of them had been scalde
lust enough to make them furiou
with pain. and. after taking time
consider. they launched a rowboat ca
ried on their deck and manned II, an
while the tug came under our bow
the rowboat approached our sterl
There was some protection for thel
both fore and aft. but as soon as
man appeared at either point be r.
ceived a dose OF steam that sent I'LL
bowling back. and some OF them wei
knocked into the brine.
This plan having failed. both boar
ing parties retreated and. joining force
ON the tug. began to pepper us VII
,heir little barker | sent men belo
10 ming holes that might be made vi
der water: but. fearing damage to OF
boiler which would put US at the
lo,a,.n,inad to assume the .