Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-26
ON BOARD LOCKED SHIPS,
HOSTILE sEAMEN CLASH
Naval Encounter in English Channel
Will Live Long in History
OF Battles.
GERMAN DEsTRoYERs RAuMED
Midshipman Fires Automatic Pistol
Into Faces Of Teutonic Sailors
Climbing TO Deck They Are
Driven Into Sea and Killed.

LONDON. April c5.-Two british de-
stroyers on patrol duty III the English
Channel OF Dover on the night Of
April 80 came upon hotilla OF SIX
German destroycrs. and then ensued
an encounter which will live LONG in
the history OF naval crgag emcnts.
German destroyers were torpedocd ana
rammed: every gun aboard the com
bstants was working. sweeping the
decks and tearing gaps in the sides OF
the opposing craft There was the
locking together OF a British and Ger
man destroyer. and the men fought
furiously in hand-to-hand battle
German seamcn OF a rammed destroy
err climbed aboard one Of the British
boats. and a midshipman fought them
back with An automatic pistol. They
were killed or driven into the sea by
British jackies Who came TO the mid
shipman's aid.
The British destroyers were tho
Swift and the Eroke. and. although
they had received many wounds. they
returned TO port.
GERMANS INSTANTLY
OPEN ON DEsTRoYERs
The destroyer leaders Swift and
Broke on night patrol. were steaminG
on westerly course II was intenssf,
dark. hut calm. The Swift sighted the
enemy at 500 yards. and the Germans
instantly opened nre. There were six
German destroyers. according TO Ger
man prisoners. The Swift replied and
ri Cd n
.;royer. She missed rammins. but shot
through the German line unscather
and In turning. neatly torpedoed an
other boat in the enemy line.
Again the Swift dashed at the lead
CT. which again eludod her and fed
with the Swift in pursuit.
In the meantime. the Broke had
launched a torpedo at the second boat
in the line. which hit the mark. and
then opened hre with every gun.
BoArs LOCKED TOGETHER
IN DESPERATE CONFLICT
Tho Broke's commander swung
round 10 port and rammed the third
boat fair and square abreast the after
funnel. Locked together thus. the
two boats fought a desperate hand to-
hand conflict. The troke swept the
ertmy's decks at point blank range
WIN every gun from main armament
to pompom. maxim, rife and pistol.
Two other German destroyers at
tackled and poured devastating Are
on the Broke. whose foremost gun
crews were reduced from eighteen 10
six men
Two minutes after ramminE. the
Broke wrenched herself free from her
adversary and turned 10 ram the las.
Of tho three remaining German boats.
Sh" failed in this objec, hut in swing
ing around, succeeded in hitting the
boats consort on tho stem with tor
pedo. Hotly engage with these two
fieetinH destroyers the Broke at
tempted to follow tho Swift in the d.
rection she was last seen. but r she'll
struck the Brok-'s boiler room. disabi-
ms her main engines. The enemy
then disappeared in the darkness. The
Broke. altering her course. headed in
tho direction Of destroyer. which a
few minutes later was seen 10 bc
heavily anre. aud whose crew on
sighting the British destroyer. sen, up
shouts for mercy. The Broke steer
ed slowly toward the German re-
CARELESS OF the danR-r from possible
explosion Of the magazines and the
German SeanleN redoubled their shouts
of save: save" and then unexpectedly
opened hrr The Broke being out OF
control. VAS unable to maneuvcr TO
cxtricatc herself. hut .ilonced the
trenchery with four rounds: then. TO
ensure her own safety, torpedoed the
German dshipe
ABASDoNS CHASE AND
SEEMS FRESH QUAnHY
Meanwhile, the Swift continued her
pursuit but slight injuries whicS she
received earlier in the action prevent
cd her from maintaining full speed
so she abandoned the chase mud sought
fresh quarry. Sighting the outline OF
a stationary destroyer from which
shouts were heard. the Swift approach
ed warily with her guns trainad. to
find that il WAS the destroyer which
had already been rammed by the Broke.
The Germans were believing, we sur
rendct" Fearing treachery, the Swift
waited and presently the destroyer
heeled over and sank Etern frat. the
crew jumping into the water.
As no other enemy was visible. and
the action. which had lasted approx.
imately five minutes. appeared 10 no
over. tho Swift switched on her search
lights and lowered boats TO rescue the
So 'nners. Those who remained Of the
crews or the Swift and the Broke
after exchanging details Of the action
chcered each other until they were
hoarse.
The British casualties are set down
az comparatively slight.
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