The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-04-21
A Bluff In
The Aegean Sea
By F. A. Mitchell

cargo of rugs and other Asiattc
goods for the port Of New York. l
was obliged to steam through the
Greek archipelago, which I knew af-
| forded fine nesting for cOrsairs. l did
not fear Greeks, but dreaded Asiatics
| from the opposite eastern coast. III
could get through to the open Mediter-
ranean sea l would feel reasonable
| expectation Of getting my cargo 10
] America and a large profit
One day while passing between two
| Greek islands | was called from the
noon meal by the lookout, who report
| ed small craft resembling tug put
| ting out from cove and steering
course with the evident intention to
head us off. Through my glass l saw
that she carried the German flag
Now, did not believe that any Ger.
man craft would be sailing in those
| waters. which We're occupied by the
allied fleets, especially the British. IL
| this one were really German | was or
| the opinion that she was tender Tor
| a submarine. However, | could only
wait and learn. | kept on my course.
watching in every direction for a peri
scope. till the tug-for such she proved
to be-was close on to my bows.
| Through my glass | could see on her
deck number of men in sailor cos
tune who might be In the German
service; but, judging from their
swarthy compilations. they were Ash
atics.
One man who appeared to be com
mander wore the uniform of Ger
| man naval officer. but | believed he
had obtained it without having com
mission. He was whittier than his men
and might have been a European. One
thing | noticed OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES was
no appearance of cannon. Whatever
armament there was doubtless consist
ed Of such weapons as could be WELD
ed by individuals. However, while
looked a port was opened and the nose
of little barker appeared. 1t was as
terrifying as a bull pup. did not be-
lieve 1t could sink us. though 1t might
put our machinery out Of commission.
With its appearance the commander
Of the tug called through a megaphonc
something In German which one of my
men who understood the language
thought to be demand for surren-
der. A submarine was ready to blow
us out of water. We were given ten
minutes to take to the boats.
Never was there a more palpablc
case OF bluff. There was no subma-
rine, nothing which could be relied on
| to sink us. We were In danger Of be-
ing boarded and oyerpowered by Asiat-
ic pirates playing the submarine act.
Though | was not deceived, l confess
It looked to me that the 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 them or men to use
them to put up an adequate defense.
But we had a means Of defense that
l had often thought Of using In case
OF being attacked by the small enemies
that infest certain Asiatic coasts.
determined to try 1t now. had plen-
| ty Of hose, and | ordered II attached
to the steam cocks Of the boiler. There
were two hose which could be used
separately. | asked for more time
(, from the pirate and was told that not
minute would be granted SO or
dered the men to pretend to begin
the work of lowering the boats, and
they made great ado with the ropes.
but accomplished nothing. During the
| few minutes they were thus engaged
We Were attaching the hose to the
boiler and running the MOBILES on deck
where they were hidden under the
| gunwale. When all was ready | or
dered the men away from the boats.
and word was shouted to the pirate
that If he wanted our ship to come
and take 1t or If he intended to blow
vs. up to do so.
| This was evidently not in his calcu-
lations. There was n conference among
them: then We could see arms brought
on 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 q hose and.
pointing 1t down at them. sent q
stream Of scalding water among them.
which caused them to desist and get
out Of range as soon as possible.
| A number OF them had been scalded
just enough to make them furious
with pain. and, after taking time to
consider, they launched rowboat car
yied ON their deck and manned II. and
while the tug came under our bows
the rowboat approached our stern.
There was some protection for them
both fore and aft, but as soon as a
man appeared at either point he re-
eeived q dose Of steam that sent him
bowling back, and some Of them were
Knocked into the brine.
This plan having failed. both board
ing parties retreated and. joining forces
on the tug, began to pepper us with
their little barker. i sent men below
to plug holes that might be made un
: der water: but. fearing damage to ouI
boiler which would put us at theil
mercy. determined to assume the of
fensiye. Pointing the vessel straight
at the tug before she could get out OF
-, - l.