The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-10-26
YANKEES
BEAT U-B0ATS
Steamer Has Thrilling Duel
with Subma-
rines ~
SEVEN OF CREW
WERE WOUNDED
Vessel Rescued by American
Warship After Four
Hour Struggle

A French seaport, Oct. 26.-Escapnl
from German submarine after bittcl
fight lasting nearly four hours, and witt
seven of her crew wounded, two OF then
seriously, an American steamer arrived
here yesterday from an American port
The timely Intervention of an American
torpedo boat alone saved the ship from
being sent to the bottom.
A few hours after the vessel had en-
tered the danger zone a lookout sighted
a submarine on the port bow, but before
he had time to report its presence the
submarine fred shot which missed the
stern of the ship by but a few yards.
The captain Immediately sent out a
wireless call for assistance, as the po-
sition of the submarine was such that es-
cape was nearly impossible.
The gun crew of the submarine and the
steamer then began to exchange shots.
The chief gunner of the steamer opened
fire at range of 5000 yards, but all the
shots fell short. The submarine kept
manoeuyring to keep out of range of the
steamers guns, at the same time main
tanning a running fire in an effort to dis
able them. The merchant ship after al
tering her course started at full speed
in an attempt to escape.
The stubbornness of the battle is indi-
Gated by the fact that the submarine
fired 234 shots at the steamer, which
responded with more than 260 shots
After the fight had continued for about
two hours and several shots had struck
the ship, wounding four men, one shell
hit the vessel and exploded in the engine
room, putting the engines out of com
mission and rendering the ship helpless.
The German commander then approached
nearer and the submarine continued to
rain shells upon the disabled craft.
The sea was running high at the time
and there seemed little hope of saving |
the ship, when low streak of black |
smoke was sighted on the horizon. 1t |
later proved to be an American torpedo |
boat destroyer coming at full speed, run
ming right into the sea and at times |
nearly disappearing from view The de-
stroyer had heard the calls for aid sent
out by the steamer and travelled at a
speed of as high as thirty knots to come
to her assistance. The destroyer inn
mediately made for the submarine, which
Owed and disappeared beneath the sur
face. The American warship circled
about the spot, dropping few depth
charges, but no more signs Of the u boat
were seen. -
While coming to the steamers assist
ance the destroyer kept sending assuring
messages such as Hold on" "Stick we
are coming
The steamers wireless apparatus, how
ever, had been disabled soon after the
fight began and the messages never were
so that the arrival of the Amer
lean destroyer was quite unexpected The
submarine apparently was aware of the
destroyer's presence because she sub.
merged before the destroyer could get {
within range I
A doctor and two assistants boarded '
he merchantmen and attended to the |
Y
The engineers had great difficulty in re- a
pairing the steamers engine, and during h
he night the destroyer and the mer-
'hantman lost each other, but finally the b
steamer made port in safety. e
The wounded We're transported to i
hospital in this city. Two Of them be- G
ong to the gun crew and five to the il
hips crew. f
The steamer was not hit below the h
vaterline, but her cargo caught fire dur h
ng the engagement The amount of il
amage has not been ascertained. a