The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1917-09-27
SEA SLUG STORIES
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-Aso hSh NC VIII NC luChy, lOT IL Is III
possible for us to see anything.
We can hear the '.woomph- woomph'
Of shells dropping into the water
around us. We have made up our
minds that 1t is all over, but two of
the other boats, not being blinded by
the searchlights, turn their fire on our
tormentor. II the Germans hold on
us we are gone, but they seem to be
In frenzy, and while they sweep
round, trying to pick up the other craft,
we change our course, and they do not
seem able to find us again. They fire
on every stick of driftage and spar
that darkens the surface Of the IL
Eliminated water.
Out Over the Dangers of the Mines
When the rising sun began to streak
the sky We were safe. Way off to port
lay the monitor we had passed the
night before, and the Brass Eat, in
command of the expedition, signaled
US to run over to her and take ac-
count
The monitor was one of type much
in evidence during the first years Of
the war, mounting heavy guns forward
in an armored turret. The guns were
made in America, and most Of the
monitors were named after American
generals. af
They were used on work that took
them constantly into the mine fields,
and for that reason they must have
special protection against mines and
torpedoes. Just how this is accom-
plished 1 do not feel at liberty to tell,
but because of it an amusing incident
occurred. The first motor launch was
running at rather low speed in toward
the monitor, so as to come alongside
All Of q sudden we saw her sort Of
climb out of the water, bow first, heel
over and lie there as though she had
run up on q bar.
A couple of "matlOes" (sailors) on
the deck Of the monitor began swear
ing at the crew, and every man In the
NJ. L. was thrown off his feet by the
shock which stopped the boat. The
swearing was not confined to the mon
itor's men. The M. L. had run high
and dry on to the shelf which forms
q part of the more or less intricate
protection against torpedoes and mines
that modern monitors carry. They had
to use crane to get her off.
Well, we had roll call and found
only one man slightly hurt. A bit Of
shell had struck him in the shoulder.
A piece the size Of mans palm was
imbedded in the side of one Of the
NJ. LIS. We had got of mighty lucky.
I might say here that later six 9th
er boats made the experiment again,
and only one got back to England, so
it isn't such soft assignment. In
that single craft were all the men
from the five launches who had sur
vived the hell they ran into. And
there was plenty Of room, for those
who had been lost were many.
Under orders the survivors Of that
raid RETAINED from telling what ac-
tually happened, but in general 1t is
true that the Germans must have re-
allied what occurred on the first expe-
dition, and they were ready. The ele-
from going to kingdom come, was alb
sent.
The officer In command Of the one
which was not destroyed cruised
around in the glare of the searchlights
until he had gathered in every living
thing that still struggled in the water
q mans job in that searching glare Of
light and hail Of shells.
The Hero.
"The sky was red over his head"
said one of the men he picked up,
because of the vast number of illu-
minating bombs and rockets the Huns
were using, besides the searchlights
and the shells that were bursting.
There was light enough to take NOV
ing picture Of the scene.
"Any human being would have run.
but that chaps devil or god. He
shouted orders to his men as though
he were at maneuvers and fished us
out Of the water with boat hook as
coolly as If he were merely picking up
q buoy and couldn't understand what
all the racket was about.
after he got me on board saw
him fall with the blood squirting from
his leg. He grabbed a bit Of rope,
made a tourniquet himself, using the
barrel Of his revolver to twist it tight,
and direSed the work until he had all
of us on board.
How we ever penetrated that bar
rier Of fire and lead and steel don't
know, but we came through and limp
ed into port under our own power"
As 1 say, 1 was not on this expedi-
ton, and what few details other than
those heard / am not at liberty to
tell.
Well, to go back to the monitor. We
all went aboard and We're given break
fast. In the ward room one of the
officers told us some interesting things
about their work. - 49, .E@
'These tubs" he explained, referring
to the monitors, "are not 'armored. We
carry heavy guns forward, and the bar
bette is the only part Of the craft that
is protected by armor plate.
80 al Il