New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-20

"Ah, monsieur desires 10 hno" ho"
we sank the Boche submarine! Two
shells. monsieur, that was ADJUST TWO
shots from title Marie, and pouf! the
submarine, she was no more
Seated in the fo'castle, the Breton
crew of the French liner Guyahe,
which came into port yesterday, told OF
the feat of their two comrades-the
cannoniers-who modestly declined 10
tell how they sank German submarine
on January %, in the Bay OF biscay'
1--WE only obeyed orders" was all
that they would say. Monsieur must
remember that We are Marines anu
therefore may not discuss naval actions
in times Of war. Brave? Monsieur mas
been misinformed. We only did whaO
others would have done in our places
That was how First Class Gunner
lean Bourdonnais, thirty-two' anu
Jacques Baudet, his assistant, dismissed
the first account of running sea nsh''
est;nq forty minutes, between hier-
ohortman and a U-boat, in when the
srhmersible was sent to the bottom oy
sbell from the .75-millimetre gun
mounted astern.
Giant Captain Laughs Over 1t
But Captain Louis RousSelot '0,'
o The captain, who was formerly
first officer on the Touraine' gave
graphic description Of how his Vesse'
had encountered the submarine on the
second day after leaving port
"The little skipper" he is affection
atclv termed by his crew, despite MS
six feet and robust figure. lie Is d
Breton seafarer, of the type that fears
nothing. always manages to get out
Of the highest scrspe and has gooa
Ianoh afterward. His twinkling blue
ewes and his hearty laugh, coming from
the depths of beard, stamp him the
seafarer of the old school.
ayes. gentlemen, it was quite an ad-
venture" he admitted yesterday. Anu
,boro is one less German shark 10
+rorble seafarers. You want the wnole
story from the beginmng-wel' you
shaIl have it," Here he interrupted
himself to chuckle heartily over the
pleasing memory.
ave left Bordeaux on the morning
If January 81 under blue skies and a
light south wind. The wind from the
south brought taste Of the spring
with il. despite that all the trees along
tho banks of the Gironds are still
leafess. We passed down the river
without incident, and after ten hours
we're in the open sea.
Bound for Coaling Port
"Vo. of course not-we had no
lights" he exclaimed. "We headed for
Faval in the Azores to take on COAL
as il was impossible to get sufficient
coal in Bordeaux. Mon Dieu. the price
Of coal there is terrible! And even
then it is impossible to obtain. Moth
ing happened until the following day.
We saw a few vessels. bound north,
but none which appeared of suspi-
cious character.
"The following afternoon, which was
Sunday, we were sailing along as peace
fully as you please, never looking for
trouble, when shortly after six bells g
p. M a large vessel appeared about
three miles distant off our starboard
quarter. She was painted black. with
dull war gray superstructure, had one
funnel and two masts. A few moments
later submarine darted out from be-
hind her and headed directly for us.
"Crick. Crack And a big splash
told where a shell had fallen about 100
metres 300 feet) short off Ocr star
board quarter.
Decided to Give Battle
"Since the German wanted fight, |
decided TO give it TO him. Why not!
No use giving up my ship before must.
lust a little fight II was such good
weather it would be shame TO miss
the opportunity.
II ordered the crew TO the boat sta
tions, told the helmsman to head south,
thus pointing the Guyane's stern tow
I ard Mr.. German. As we were swinging
round 'Pouf!' and he had fired another
she'll, evidently thinking that We were