Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-27
British Destroyer Barely
Escapes German Torpedo

I
Coast,-(C orrespondence Associated
Press), June 27.-Just how a British
destroyer acts when attacked by a
submarine was Unexpectedly demon
strated to an Associated Press cores
pondent today while travelling on one
of the modern oil-driven torpedo boat
destroyers from England to France.
The correspondent had been taken
aboard the destroyer for the purpose
Of observing British methods Of COM
batting the submarine menace.
When the boat was suddenly attack
ed by submarine. torpedo missed
it by scant six feet. thanks to the
vigilance and quick action Of the crew
The destroyer was one of certain
number which we're conveying some
large transports carrying British
troops to France. The group Of ships
was half way across the channel when
suddenly one of the lookouts saw a
pair Of twin periscopes rise for mo-
ment a few inches out Of the water q
half mile away.
LOOKOUT GIVES WARNING.
They were gone the next instant
But almost before they had gone came
the shout:
Submarine on port bow"
This was accompanied by shrill
call OF warning from the destroyers'
whistle and the fluttering out OF the
flag which notified every other ship
in the convoy of the enemy's presence.
On every ship things began to hap
pen more quickly than the telling.
Guns were swung in the direction from
which the periscope had been seen,
ready to speak II it appeared again.
Torpedo tubes were swung into line
and the numerous anti-submarine de-
vices along deck we're in the hands Of
their skilled expert crews.
TORPEDO PLAINLY VISIBLE
But even while this was being done
came the torpedo. clearly visible from
the deck. its cleaning brass body glist-
ening bright in the sunlight, It's pro-
pellers sending it at express train
speed straight toward the destroyer
Something was wrong with the mech
anism OF this particular torpedo for it
should have travelled twelve or fifteen
feet below the surface. Instead It came
bounding along in plain sight. now and
then leaping out OF the water. like a
fiat stone skipping over the surface.
Even thus, it might have found it's
target but for the presence Of mind
OF the 6o-year-old coxswain. At the
first alarm he had rushed Immediately
to an emergency lever whereby he In
stantly stopped the port engine. thus
swinging the ship with a lurch to the
left. The torpedo whizzed through the
water six feet behind the stern Of the
destroyer, it's gradually lessening
speed as II sunk into the swirl Of the
engines indicating that its possibilities
for mischief were nearly done
WIRELESS SPREADS WARNING.
Except for the coxswain's action in
twisting the ship from its course the
missile apparently would have made a
square hit in the stern magazine.
Meanwhile the wireless was at work
the hundreds Of patrols In
all directions that the enemy was near
1t was caught simultaneously ashore
and afloat by hundred vigilant wire
less operators The destroyers' cap
tain, according to his orders, must not
leave his convoy to seek out and at
tack the U-boat Others would at
tend to that Already they were gath
ering for the chase-trawlers, chasers,
critters. destroyers. even diribile air
ship had caught the wireless call and