Ellsworth American., 1917-05-09
CUTLASSES USED
IN DOVER BATTLE
British Fought as In Days Of
Old to RepeI Foes.
WARSHIpS LOCKED IN FIGHT
English Rammed, Torpsdoed and Swept
Ensn,y's Decks at Close Ranss-0er-
mans Cried to Be Saved and Then
Opened Fire Two Dsstroysrs De-
fsatsd Six.

VPeheo Ftt W. 0ssu~yWs 49,
fsatsd Six.
Two British destroyers on patrol duty
In the English channel or Dover the
other night came upon a lotilla OF six
German destroyers, and then ensued
an encounter which will live long In
the history Of naval engagements.
German destroyers were torpedoed and
rammed. Every gun aboard the COM
batants was working, sweeping the
decks and tearing gaps In the sides Of
the opposing craft. There was the
locking together Of British and Ger
man destroyer and the men fought fu-
riously in hand tc hand battle.
German seamen of q rammed de-
stroyer climbed aboard one Of the Brit
ish boats. and midshipman fought
them back with an automatic pistol
They were killed or driven again into
the sea by sailors who came to the
midshipman's aid
The British destroyers were the
Swift and the Broke. and, although
they had received many wounds, they
returned to port
1t was intensely dark. but calm. The
Swift sighted the enemy at 600 yards,
and the Germans instantly opened fire.
There were six German destroyers, ac-
cording to German prisoners. The
Swift replied and tried to ram the
leading enemy destroyer. She missed
ramming. but shot through the Ger
man line unscathed and In turning
neatly torpedoed another boat in the
enemy line.
er, which again eluded her and ned.
with the Swift in pursuit
In the meantime the Broke had
launched torpedo at the second boat
in the line, which hit the mark. and
then opened fire with every possible
gun. The remaining German boats
were stoking furiously for full speed.
The Broke's commander swung round
to port and ramnled the third boat
fair and square abreast the after fun
mel Locked together thus, the two
boats fought a desperate hand to hand
conflict. The Broke swept the enemy's
decks at point blank range with every
gun, from main armament to pompom,
Maxim. rife and pistol.
CutIass and 6ayonet Used.
Two other German destroyers at
tackled and poured devastating fire
crews were reduced from eighteen to
six men. Midshipman Donald Gyles.
although wounded In the eye. kept all
the foremast guns In action, he him
self assisting the depleted crews to
load. While he was thus employed
number Of frenzied Germans swarmed
up over the Broke's forecastle cut of
the rnmmed destroyer and, finding
themselves amid the binding flashes
Of the forecastle guns, swept aft In a
shouting mob.
The midshipman. amid the dead and
wounded Of his own gun crews and
half blinded by blood. met the onset
single handed with an automatic pis-
tol. He was grappled by German
who tried to wrest the pistol away.
Cutlasses and bayonets being among
the British equipment In anticipation
Of such an event. the German was
promptly bayoneted by Seaman Ingie-
son. The remainder OF the invaders.
except two who feigned death. were
driven over the side. the two being
taken prisoners.
Two minutes after ramming, the
Broke wrenched herself free from her
sinking adversary and turned to ram
the last OF the three remaining Ger
man boats. She failed in this object
The enemy then disappeared in the
darkness. The Broke, altering her
destroyer which, few minutes later,
was seen to be heavily afire. and whose
crew. on sighting the British destroyer.
sent up shouts for mercy. The Broke
steered slowly toward the German, re-
gardless Of the danger from a possible
explosion OF the magazines, and the
German seamen redoubled their shouts
Of "Save. save!" and then Unexpectedly
opened fire.
Ends Trsacherous Attack.
The Broke. being out of control, was
unable to maneuver or extricate her
self. but silenced the treachery with
four rounds: then. to insure her own
safety. torpedoed the German.
The British casualties are set down
as comparatively slight. and the spirit
Of the wounded is illustrated by the
conduct Of the Broke's helmsman, Sea-
man William Rowles. who, though hit
four times by shell fragments, remained
at the wheel throughout the action and
finally only betrayed the fact that he
was wounded by reporting to his cap
tain, I'm going of now, sir" and
tainted
A number Of the wounded only pre-
sented themselves at sick call the fol-
lowing day, one stoker giving the sur
geon the ingenious excuse, II was too
busy. sir, clearing up the rubbish ON
the stokers' mess deck"