The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1917-05-09
A Bluff In
The Aegean Sea
by r. A. Mitchell

Du-iny the scrold year of the ~
European war [ commanded ~ 49,
ton tramp steamer called the Ajax.
j., l. left Smyrna in August. 1915. with
cargo Of rugs and other Asiatic
goods for. the port of New York: |
was obliged to steam through the
Greek archipelago, wlticl + kncw af-
fordM fine nesting for c"rSairs.. J did
not fear Greeks. but dreaded ASiatirs
from tho opposite eastern coast. If
could get through to the open, Meditcr-
rancan sea l would feel reasonable
expectation OF getting my cargo TO
America aud large profit.
Ono day while passing between two
Greek islands I was called from the
noon meal by the lookout. who report
cd Il small craft resembling tug put
ting out from a cove and steering
course With the evident intention ia
head us Off. Through my glass saw
that she carried the German flag.
Now. / did not believe that any Ger
man craft would DC sailing in those
NultiS. "blfu WHY cSNht''''' ~ -''
allied fleets, especially the British. Ii
this one were really German l was OF
the opinion that she was tender for
submarine. However. \ could only
wait AID learn. I kept on my course.
watching in every direction for q per-
scope, till The tus-for such she proved
to ,bc-~was. close on TO my bows
Through my glass could see, ON her.
deck aYnunlbcr Of men in sailor cos.
tune VITO might be in t he German,
service: but, Judging from thor.
swarthy compilations, they were Asi,
.atics.
&. One man who appeared to be com.
nlandcr wore the uniform Of a Ger.
man naval officer. but | believed bE
had obtained It without having a COM
mission. lie was whittier than his mcn
and might have been European. One
thing noticed OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES was
no appearance Of cannon. Whatever
armament there was doubtless consist
cd Of such weapons as could be WELD
cd by individuals. However. while l
looked u port was opened and the nose
of little barker appeared. 1t was as
terrifying as a bull pup. | did not be-
lieFe it could sink lis. though 1t might
put our machinery out Of commission.
With its appearance the commander
Of the tug called through a lnegaphone
something In German which one OF my
men who understood the language
thought to bc u demand for snrrcll-
der. A submarine was ready to blow
',lls out Of water. We We're given ten
minutes TO take to the boats.
# Never was there a more palpahlc
ease OF bluff: There was no submn-
finc, nothing which could be relied on
I to sink us. We were in danger Of be-
ing boarded and orcypowercd by Asiat-
ic pirates playing the submarine act.
Though I was not deceived. I confess
it looked to me that tic only chance
for our lives. was to take to the boats
and leave our cargo to the pirates.
There were few small arms aboard.
but not enough Of then, or men to use
them to put up an adequate defense.
But we had a means OF defense that
/ had often thought Of using i'll case
Of being attacked by the small enemies
that infcst certain Asiatic coasts.
determined to try it now. I bad plcu-
ty Of hose, and l ordered it attached
TO the steam cocks Of tho boiler There
were two hose which could he used
separately. | asked for more time
from the pirate and was told that not
a minute would be granted. So Of
derel the men to pretend to begin
the work Of lowering the boats, aud
they made great ado with the ropes,
but accomplished nothing. During the
few minutes they were thus engaged
I'VE were attaching the hose TO the
sboilcr and ruu,liug thc 'iozz'cs OH deck
s,vhere they were hidden under the
:gunwalc.g WhclA ALL was ready OF
sdered the inenf away from jthf hoate::
sand word was shouted to the pirate
that il he wanted our slip, to come
land. take it or if he intended to blow
Eus up TO do's0:: '."@ - rESis, -
+ This was evidently not in his r;'lcu-
latiOns. There was q conference anon.
them: then We coui6 see arms brought
OH deck. 1t was evident that they in
tended to board us. Meanwhile they
ran up against us and were about to
lash to us when | took a hose and.
pointing it down ut them sent Il
stream OF scaldipg water among; them.
which caused them to desist aud get
out Of range rs soon as possible.