davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-09-05
No. 3
A Motor Launch Raia
on the Belgian Coast
By
A SEA SLUG,
British Service Name For Crews
of Submarine Chasers.
Copyright. 1917, by the Bell Syn
dictate, Inc.
PROLOGUE.


The author Of this series Of four drti.
Giles Is a young American, toho has spent
most of his time since the iodr started
scith the British patrol feet, taking an
important part IN helping to organise
that branch of the service knopn as
the Sea Slugs.
He has accumulated a remarkable
collection of anecdotes Incident to this
erciting branch Of the scrUicc, and
mdny Of these Ucre personal ddrcn-
lures IN trhich he took part and ichich
make ono of the stirring narratives 10
come out of the tcdr. He recently re.
turned TO the United States 10 assist
the American nary IN organizing the
same branch of the scrUico and should
DC Of great Udlue because Of his expert
eace abroad. SO far as kno,cit, nc is tho
only American to scrUe Nth the British
patrol prior to the ddrcnf Of the United
States destroyer fotHld in British ira
tiers. OF course some of his experiences
of military rdlac to the enemy, cannot
be related. At the request of the seruict
publication of his name is tcithheld.
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-09-05

dered by a maze of mines, girt by a
craft and freckled with series Of
land batteries which make the experts
say it would be automatically impOs-
sible to smash into the naval bases
from the sea side.
The British government prefers to
keep his name secret for the present,
SO 1t would not be policy for me to
divulge it. When he put the idea up
to the commander of the base he said
right away:
II don't want to lose more than six
boats. If you can get six crews to
volunteer for the service go ahead. |
won't order anybody on raid like
that"
Six times six crews volunteered, but
only six were allowed to go. We
chug-chugged out of Dover just before
shutdown, every man with a lifebelt
strapped under his shoulders, petrol
tanks filed to the last drop, ammuni-
tion In every available space and every
motor thoroughly inspected down to
the last screw.
We were thinking only Of what a
time We were going to give the BOches
The boys that wigwagged "GOodby" to
US believed they had seen us for the
last time, but wished they were with
us just the same. Straight for a GER
tain selected spot on the Belgian coast
We laid our course, and when night
fell we couldn't even see our own
boats. There wasn't so much as a pin
point of light showing on any Of the
craft. Every one wore dark uniforms,
and every once in awhile when we'd
crowd on a little more speed there
would suddenly loom up right ahead
lowing and we'd almost be aboard her
The men at the wheels had to have
their nerve with them.
Over the Mine Fields.
The chap who had proposed the raid
we might as well call him Jones,
which is not his name-had figured out
the tide conditions to a nicely, and on
this particular night we were having
tuc Nutti VI thc outuhih'
Just before we ran into the mine fields
we passed British monitor, about
which l will have more to say later,
and then began the real work of the
expedition.
As every one knows, some mines are
set SO that they rise and fall with the
tide and remain always a certain dis
lance below the surface Of the water.
and II we didn't hit one of these 1t
would be merely matter of luck.
There were thousands of mines all
around us, and there was no earthly
way Of telling where any of them
were.
As for the mines which are anchored
always the same distance above the
bottom of the sea, we were counting
on the extra high tide to take US over
these. At least Jones had figured that
It would.
There Is no moon. We dash along
full speed ahead. for we must run In,
accomplish our task and run out again
before that tide GIBBS enough to make
Il next to impossible for even our
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-09-05

Make your plans to visit the fifteenth
annual Kentucky State Fair, to be held
in Louisville the week of Sept. 10.
This Is "doing your bit" toward stfmu-
lating and encouraging agriculture ana
stock raising IN accordance with the
governments call.
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-09-05

and double back, waiting until we are
out of the zone from which we start.
ed to fight.
l do not suppose any Of the Huns
ever thought of the little motor launch
es. They seem jumpy in their nerves,
judging by the way they handle the
searchlights. Probably they think
some new engine of warfare Is attack
ing them, like the tanks which so sur
prised them In the trenches one fine
day.
Umph! Suddenly l am blinded. l
think for hundredth Of second that
am shot. and my head is splitting. II
Is q searchlight, the rays full and
square In my eyes. The gunner fires
Into the source Of the light. Il seems
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-09-05

TT is better that do not mention the
name Of the Sea Slug who con-
ceived the idea of motor launch
raid on the coast of Belgium-that part
Of the coast held by Germany, bor-
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-09-05
The Mathematics of 1t.

The Mathematics of 1t.
"Now, what the Germans had done
was this. They erected series of
gauze screens--at least three-between
us and a battery which we were nc
customed to shell To hit the target
our shells must pass through these
screens Electrical timing devices indi-
Gated the length of time the projectile
required to travel between the screens,
and of course the distance was already
known.
This gave the Germans the velocity
Of the shell when II reached the screen.
The holes it made In the screens gave
them three or more points In the curve.
This enabled them to plot n section Of
the curve. They could tell from the
explosion the size of the shell approx
mately. This would enable them to
know the velocity with which the shell
would leave the gun.
with these elements-a section OF
the trajectory. the velocity of the shell
when it reached the screens and Il
knowledge of the initial velocity Of a
certain sized shell-they had more than
enough data to figure out exactly
where the prOjectile came from.
"In fact, they could check themselves
OH it, because they could plot the whole
curve from the section they had with
their knowledge Of the velocity. and
they could figure the straight distance
from the velocity of the shell when II
reached the screens and the velocity
they knew 1t must have when 1t left
the nuzzle of the cannon on board the
monitor.
"The best proof that the system
worked was the fact that. no matter
where we moved to, their shots strad-
died us, and besides the one which
came on board us one of our other
ships got shell in the boiler room"
Well, somebody's always taking the
Joy out of life. as we say in America.
After mess we left the monitor, the
little damage which had been done the
NJ. l.. that ran up on the shelf having
been repaired Before we went down
over the rim of the horizon we saw
our friend the monitor steaming as
fast as she could go toward some YES
sells flying the Dutch flag.
Sd all neutrals anyway" said
the Brass Hat. lie didn't mean that
there was anything particularly rep
rehensible in being neutral, but If there
were no neutrals we'd always know
who To fire on and who not to. The
trouble Is that a lot of ships are cruis-
Ing around under neutral flags and
catering mines in their wake.
Were always nervous when we're
IN waters a neutral has just traversed.
Down ut Dover But I'm getting ahead
VI myself. will tell about what hap
rcned ut Dover In my next article.
The fourth and concluding article of
this fcries will appear soon. 1t Is en-
titled
No. 4.-Ths Dangers Of Dover.
Aerop'anes lombard the barracks and
town. German submarines laying mines
In the harbor channel. What happened
on a destroyer the day after I had dinner
IN her with the officers whom later NV
crushed and torn to death.
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-09-05

same. The curve varies constantly,
becoming sleeper as the velocity of
the shell decreases and it begins to
he affected more and more by gravity.
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-09-05
"But the other day we dropped GOV ~

But the other day we dropped down
the coast for little party. when ali
Of sudden. after cur HrGt shot, a
shell pumped into the water just be-
You'd us. We let go another, and Oh.
second German shell fell just little
short. Both were in line
1--WE thought it was luck, so we NOV
ell to n new position. The same thing
happened, only this time one sheh
came on board and did some damage
and hurt some of our crew. OF course
we thought the Huns must have some
planes up giving the batteries our
range. but we couldn't spot one any
where. This sort of thing kept up ali
morning until it became positively I'M
canny. The day was heavy with fog,
making aerial observation difficult.
How the Germans Got the Range.
Then an officer who had been an
observer In the Russo-Japanese war
explained it. The japanese had used
system at Port Arthur to locate
some hidden Russian batteries that this
chap said the Germans must be en-
ploying and | guess he was right. In
fact, we know now that he was. How
we confirmed our original opinion !
cannot tell.
Every one familiar with the princi-
pies of artillery fire knows that a shell
does not travel in straight line. II
travels in a curve called the trajectory
Elevate "A gun of a given caliber to a
certain angle and fire It and the ira
jectory will always he practically the
The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-29
ATTENDS CONVENTION.
Landlord E. j. Carroll and Wife At
Eau Claire.

Landlord e. J. Carroll OF the New
Commercial hotel, and wife, attended
the twenty-irst annual convention of
the Wisconsin State Hotel association
in Eau Claire on Tuesday and We'd
nesday.
Food conservation and measures to
aid the government in its program to
eliminate food waste were among the
most important matters considered.
Among the speakers on the program
were Judge John c. Karel, Milwau-
kee; H. ]. keenan,, chairman of the
food conservation committee of Mil
waukee; Prof. Cooley of the Milwau-
kee continuation school; H. B. Crane,
vice president Of the association and
landlord of the Galloway hotel, Eau
Claire; Mrs. Anna McNeill, one of the
most successful hotel women in the
country; Ray Smith, chairman Of the
Tenth army district supplying cooks
for the United States army; Frank J.
Machtette one of New York's biggest
hotel directors, and others.
The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-29
GOVERNOR TO FACILITATE
SHIPMENTS OF COAL

Gov. E. L. Philip has announced
that he would Immediately take up
with the railroad commission the ques-
ton of facilitating shipments of coal
by railroads operating in the state.
The governor has discovered that
some of the dealers have purchased
large consignments of coal which are
being held in cars on sidings awaiting
favorable opportunity for sale. The
den1urrage charge for the holding of
cars is so small that some dealers
rather hold the coal in cars and pay
the charge than dispose Of it quickly.
1t is this problem that Gov. Philip in
tends to tackle.
These cars of coal should not be
held" declared Gov. Philip Saturday.
"They should be unloaded at once. /
will take the matter up at once with
the railroad commission. We want to
facilitate the rapid shipment of coal
into Wisconsin in the next ninety days
and we want this coal unloaded rapid
ly. Some method will be worked out,
whether it be by charging much higher
coal demurrage charges or not, that
will empty these loaded cars in a
hurry"
The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-29
SHOW BIG ANIMALS
AT WATERFOWL FAIR

Among the livestock exhibits at the
Watertown fair, September Al, will
be some of the heavy ones of the coun-
try. One exhibitor in the swine depart
ment is John L. Fischer of GAINESVILLE,
who will show Durocs. Among this
herd is one male which weighs 1850
pounds. At the present price of pork
that animal is worth considerable, but
his value cannot be measured on that
scale as the breeding counts far more.
Gerald Arnold of Galesville is an
other exhibitor of livestock and will
show a herd of shorthorns, one indi-
vidual Of the herd weighing 1850
pounds These are only two of many
fine specimens Of livestock which will
be exhibited on the grounds.
Secretary Harte states that all ex-
hibition departments will be filed and
that the race entries will be larger
than in any other year.
The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-29
WILL SEND DELEGATES TO
BOYS OF co. E AT CAMP

The boys of Co. E. have been in
Camp Douglas two weeks. The army
ration served them are palatable and
plenty, but still there is that longing
for little delicacies that are not served
with the army rations. True indeed,
there is mess fund from which they
can purchase whatever they wish, but
we the people Of Watertown surely
want our boys to save that money un-
til the time when they are in Southern
training quarters or Somewhere in
France"
To enable them to make this savings
a plan has been started by Judge W..
H. Woodland and Rev. H. Link where
by the company can be supplied with
fruits, vegetables and other good
things to eat. Two barrels have been
placed in the grocery store of John e.
Heismann in Main street and in which
the people are asked to put fruit and
vegetables for the boys of Co. E.
The barrels will be shipped to Co. E.
on Friday in order that they may have
good Sunday dinner Schempf Bros.
Co. store have started the ball rolling
with a donation Of box of pears and
one of peaches.
The neighboring towns who have
men in the different companies are
sending their boys lot of good things
to eat. Waterloo, a town of 1000, sent
so live chickens, bag of sweet corn,
35 pounds of cheese and case of but
ter, some time ago.
Watertown with a population of
10000 people ought to do as we'll. So
get busy-a dozen pears, peaches, or
other fruit and vegetables will be ap-
preciated by the boys. Everybody
droy little something in the barrel
and help our boys.
This appeal has the sanction of the
Jefferson County Defense League.
The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-29

Watertown will play GAINESVILLE Sun
day on the latter's grounds In titan
ic struggle which will in measure set
tie pennant claimant honors. The Cos
lings have been going good the past
few games and it was only 1uke that
lost the game Sunday to the Forts, for
the whole team is playing fast, clean
ball. GAINESVILLE is also playing the
kind of ball that, spells pennant and
the aggregation as whole Is fighting
hard to get strangle hold on the flag
just out Of their reach.
Pete Kronitz will probably use An
weller and Hughes In the points on
Sunday and GAINESVILLE will work Zett-
ner, Rose, Crodon and Delaney.
In the interest Of the game all loyal
Watertown fans who can should go to
GAINESVILLE and boost; boost for the
home team. A fan can help to win a
game and Watertown must win Sun
day, so pack your little kit of noise
and meander down GAINESVILLE way and
see one of the greatest games in your
life, for both teams are going to play
as they never did before.
The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-29
TEN PIN FANS
GETTING READY
FOR SEASON
Maerzke and Kennel Alleys VIII
Open On September Is and Hero
Alleys Will Open Next
Saturday.

The bowling season will open in Wa
tertown next month, which is but a
few days off now. The Kennel alleys
and the Maerzke alleys will be In oper-
alton on September Is after undergo
ing the necessary repairs and polish
ing necessary to put them in apple
pie order. The Hero alleys will be
open to the public on next Saturday,
September /.
This year the Kennel alleys will be
managed by Herman Gramm, as Mr.
Kennel the owner, is at present at
Waukesha, where he expects to re-
main for some time. Mr. Gramm states
that the City league will be organized
about October l.
The Hero alleys have undergone
the refurbishing necessary and are
now in the pink Of condition.
The coming season at the local al
leys promises to be a good one from
every point of view, and the alleys
,wners are looking forward to pros
ferrous season.
The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-29
ROYAL NEIGHBORs ENTERTAIN.
Fort Atkinson Lodge Holds Reception
For Supreme Oracle.

-Four members of the local lodge of
Royal Neighbors of America motored
to Fort Atkinson Tuesday to take part
in the reception held in honor of the
supreme oracle of the Royal Neighbors
there. A large number of members of
the order from surrounding towns at
tended the meeting, making it a most
pleasant gathering
After dinner, which was served by
the Fort Atkinson lodge, speeches
were in order, and it was at late
hour that the happy members returned
to their homes. Among those who at
tended from Watertown were Miss
Mary Iffland, Mrs. Lucy Hilgendorf,
Mrs. Edward Graeszel and Mrs. Fred
Creuz
The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-29
EXHIBIT AT FAIR.
Library To Have One of the Best Ex.
hibits Ever Displayed.

Arrangements for the library booth
in the Floral building at the Water
town Fair here have been made al
ready so as to make it one of the larg-
est and best ever held of any of the
previous years.
There will be books there on every
topic of present day interest. Litera-
ture that treats of-fhe library and it's
work in the communicated explains
its relation to the needs of a people
who are we'll educated will also be in
abundance
Those in charge of the booth at the
fair will give any information wished
to those interested in the library and
tits work
Posters illustrating the various
needs filled by the library here will be
displayed, as will also charts depicting
the progress made in education during
the past years.
The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-29
TO DEMONSTRATE COLD
PACK METHOD THURSDAY

Miss Edna Ullrich will demon
strate the cold-pack method of can
ming, at the high school Thursday af-
ternoon at o'clock
Miss Ullrich is we'll qualified to
eeach this method as she has studied
the subject extensively and has also
attended a lecture course at the Uni
versity Of Wisconsin. There are many
women in Watertown who have been
timid and have not tried this method
on account of not knowing just what
procedure to follow. The theoretical
and practical side of the demonstra-
ton will enable one to become con-
versant with the method in a short
time.
The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-29
MANY FREE ATTRACTIONS
AT FAIR next week

The free attractions at the Inter-
County fair next week are all top
liners, and Secretary Harte says they
are the best that could be booked. The
Watertown fair always did have good
free attractions and this year will be
no exception to the rule The fire.
works display on Wednesday and
Thursday evenings will be something
out of the ordinary, and worth visit
to the fair grounds. Following is the
program of free attractions that will
work in front of the grandstand every
day and night during the fair:
The Six CHARACTERIZATION pyra-
mid builders, introducing sensational
feats of lofty and ground tumbling.
They are the worlds fastest acrobats.
Guy Baldwin Conversational wire
running act consisting of five people.
Americas greatest wire artists.
Alexander Trio-Comedy acrobatic
act with four table rock for a finish.
The Omar Sisters-The whirling
girlies in an aeriel fashion show. For
exquisite beauty, exhilirating charm,
startling surprise and great act
Sensational ladder act by three peo-
pie.
The Howe Barlow Troup-Filled
with original and sensational sur
prises; three people and Ginger, the
acrobatic dog.
Lady posing and team races, driven
by lady drivers.
Comedy acrobats and cycling ex-
perts.
The Rosards-Iron teeth and cradle
act. Dashing and daring.
Prof. Welch's exhibition of whiffet
running dogs. The only troup of its
kind in the country.
King-Worlds greatest high diver.
Will dive twice daily from lofty lad
der 81 feet high.
Don't fail to visit The Great Clifton
Kelly shows.
The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-29
BOYS WHO KNOW RADIO
ARE WANTED IN NAVY

A splendid opportunity to study
wireless telegraphy at Harvard Uni
versity without cent of expense is
offered to the young men of this state
by the government Amateur wireless
operators whose instruments were
seized by federal officers at the out
break of the war now have a chance to
make real radio men out of them
selves. Young men Is years of age
who have a working knowledge of ra-
do and who can receive at least 20
words minute in the Continental
code can enlist in the navy as radio
electricians. The pay is $42 month,
with all expenses, board and lodging
and the first years supply of clothing,
paid by the government. Enlistments
will be taken in the Naval Reserve.
which means that the men will have
to serve during the war only.
The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-29
SPECIAL MEETING OF
POULTRYMEN TONIGHT

The Watertown Poultry and Pet
Stock association will hold special
meeting in Union hall tonight to de-
eide what exhibits are to be placed
at the InterCounty fair. A large num-
Der of entries have been made and the
association expects to have a large
exhibit
Prof. T. ]. Berto has been appointed
member of the entertainment COM
mittee, and Miss Edna Mosier OF *
onia, a member of the local organiza-
ton, will be on the committee of reg
istration and reception OF the Ameri-
can Poultry association convention to
be held in Milwaukee September "a
and Is.
The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-29
SHORE BIRD SEASON
AND THE FEDERAL LAW

Reports and inquiries received by
the United States Department of Ag-
riculture indicate that sportsmen of
certain startes are somewhat con-
fused in regard to the time when the
shore-bird season opens under the
migratory-b regulations.
The department has announced
that it is unlawful to hunt at any
time any shore birds except the black
breasted and golden plover, the great
er and lesser yellowlegs, Wilson snipe,
and woodcock, the open seasons for
which are as follows:
Black-breasted and golden plover,
greater and lesser yellowlegs: In
Maine, New Hampshire, Massachu-
sets, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New
York, New Jersey, Delaware, Mary
land and Virginia the open season is
from August 16 to November 80, in
elusive; in Wisconsin, Minnesota
North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyo-
ming, Montana and Idaho the open
season is from September to Deem
Der 20, inclusive; in Oregon and Wash
ington the open season is from Octo-
Der l to December Is, inclusive; in
South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Ala
bama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Tex
as the open season is from November
l to January 81, inclusive; In Califor-
mia and Utah there Is no open season
and in the remainder of the states the
open season is from September l to
December 15, inclusive.
The open season for shooting Will
son snipe or jacksnipe are the same as
the open seasons for shooting water
fowl under the regulations.
The open season on woodcock In
zone No. is from October to No
vember 30, inclusive, except in I'LL
nois, Kentucky and Missouri, where
the season is closed until October l.
1918; in zone No. the open season on
woodcock is from November l to De-
cember 81, inclusive.