Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-08-23

Only Five Prisoners
Having room enough only for six
/, additional men aboard his craft, the
German skipper made only five of the
sunners prisoners, Bruce said. These
included the chief gunner and two pet
ty officers. One of the gunners, whose
nam was Miller, was included because
| he could speak German.
The submarine was the U-2. Bruce
did not learn the commanders name.
The German told him, he said, that
he had first fired a torpedo and the
Campana but had missed, the pro-
jectile. apparently passing under the
steamship.
The Canpana was sent to the bot
/ tom by bombs after her crew had been
allowed to return and get their per-
| sonal effects.
| Directions were given to Bruce by the
submarine commander how to reach
the nearest port. He told him at the
same time that he had heard wireless
messages exchanged by two French
vessels in the vicinity and warned him
not to allow himself to be picked I'm
| by them.
= am going to sink them" he said.
Bruce Took a Chance
Bruce and his men, nevertheless
LOOK chance, encountering a French
"arshlp after floating about in small
noats until six O'Clock that night, The
"arshlp took them aboard and land :
ca tnem IN France Bruce said an Of
| ncer OF the war vessel told him that
! ne had heard wireless message from
another French cruiser, saving that
1t had sunk a German submarine in
the vicinity of the place where tho
tampana had been sunk. Bruce said
| u was only matter of conjecture as
TO whether this was the submarine y,
attacked his vessel, but if true he fear.
| ed 1t meant that Capt. Oliver and his
gunners had persisted.
men capt Oliver and the other mis-
oners went below on the submarine" said
| Bruce, they bade US goodbye and the n
BOAT captain assured me they would he
treated as prisoners of war and landed
/ IN few days at a German base. where
the captain said they would be given ey
cry opportunity to send word back IN
their families. was allowed to taLe !,
personal message from Capt Oliver to be
delivered to his wife.
The bluejackets with us were a game
| lot. When the last shell had gone. thew
would have tackled the Germans with
their revolvers had the word been PASSED
TO them. 1t would have been a useless
sacrifice Of life. however. as the Germans
had US at their mercy.
Take All Prisoner,
The captain said his instructions were
to take all American glnners and CAP
tains of armed ships prisoners. He said
, however, he was sorry the United States
was in the war. because he hated to fght
Americans as he had always found them
friendly and good sports. Americans, he
said. will always fight to finish. He
had no use for the French or the Eng
fish, though. especially the English.
THE captain said he had been out
long time and had sunk number 81
ships, but did not name them. He told
Of meeting a fishing vessel which he
thought was English because It was with
in the war zone. He fired on her. where
upon the ship hosted the Spanish neg.
His shots had crippled her. however, and
she went down. The U-boat captain. how.
ever, rescued the crew and put them on
another Spanish ship next day. One Of
the spaniards was wounded and the cap
tain said he treated him with the SUBJ
marines surgical supplies"
The gunners taken prisoners are:
James Delaney, chief gunners mate;
William Miller. seaman; Fred Jacobs,
seaman; Ray Roop boatswain's mate,