The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-08-29

4
bly, clear, and the water was oily
smooth. We were so close to land VIC
didn't think there was n chance OF
anything attacking us when Just Mt I
o'clock I'm the afternoon submarine
appeared Off our port bow and signaled
us TO stop.
1--WE were armed with Al gun on
our stern and had navy gunners on
board, so instead Of obeying we turned
sharply to starboard to present as
small target as possible for torpedo
and opened fire.
THE first two shots fell short, and
the third went over the u boat. The
way some people talk you would have
expected the submarine to run away.
She didn't do anything of the kind.
She opened up Wi us with gun that
must have been at least a three inch
piece. and the second shot hit one of
our gun mounts.
zone man disappeared-actually dis
appeared. Either he was knocked into
the sea and sank, or he must have
been literally blown to pieces. Anoth.
er poor fellow was killed-just about
torn In twO-and two other men were
put out cold. The captain had to stop
then, because there was nothing left
to fight with.
we were so near port that the firing
must have been heard, and IL was al
most certain something would come
out to investigate, but the U boat went
about finishing the job very method
ically.
THE German commander ordered us
into our boats. While we were lower
ing away he signaled the captain and
the chief engineer, myself, to come
alongside the U boat. The first thing
he did was to have our wounded
brought aboard, and his surgeon at.
tended to them. Then he used our
boat to send men over and place bombs
in the ship to blow her up.
"As the day was drawing to close,
1t was becoming colder, and, seeing
that the men had not brought coats
with them, the German commander
gave us all sweaters and towed us to-
ward shore for half an hour or So
Three destroyers passed out, but they
were so far away that the u boat
simply submerged until she was awash,
and they never saw a thing. 1t was
almost sunset when she finally disap-
peared after maneuvering around as
though playing like a porpoise at sun
set almost within range of shore bat
teries."
The story Of this armed merchant
man shows that simply placing guns
on steamships is not going to protect
them against submarines. There has
got to be sort of craft to fight them
Oil something like equal terms, and the
swift, seaworthy, low lying NJ. LIS
seem to be the ones to do it. But
great numbers of them are needed,
and great numbers of trained men are
needed to operate them.
Song of the Sea slugs.
The Sea Slugs in England sing
song which pretty well covers every
thing in the line of their life and duty.
Some OF the verses were written by
one man. some by another The one
referring to Uncle Sam is my own
and will be understood when l say
that the first Nj. LIS were built in
America and that the British took
some time TO learn just how t. use
them:
Sing me a song of n frail M. L.
lord, have mercy upon usO
Rolling about on an oily swell
lord, have mercy upon usO
Out on a highly explosive spree,
Petrol, lyddite and 7. N. T.,
Looking for u boat 1913
% Lord, have mercy upon usO
Sing me song Of bold young '1oot''
Uord have mercy upon usO,
Skillful mariner and nut to boot
Iord have mercy upon usD
SO ship the cable and heave the lead.
Hard a-starboard and full ahead.
The decorators are In my bed.
Uord, have mercy upon usO
Sing me song of a smart young sub
Oord, have mercy upon usD,
An insubordinate, half trained cub.
Qord, have mercy upon usD
OF the kings regulations l know not one.
/ have left undone what l should have
done.
But. oh, my aunt when fire that gun!
U.ord have mercy upon usO
Sing me song of c. M. b.
Uord, have mercy upon usO,
Bred in garage and sent to sea
Uord, have mercy upon usD,
Taken away from the motor trade,
Seasclx and sorry, sore, dismayed,
But a h of a nut on the grand pa
rade."
Uord, have mercy upon us0
Sing me n song of Uncle Sam
Lord, have mercy upon usO;
Built five hundred and don't care d-n.
Uord, have mercy upon usD
Nobody knows what they built them for.
Every one prays that they'll build no
more.
But such are the horrors of "bloody
war"
Uord. have mercy upon usD
Sing me a song of North sea base
~ I.orl have mercy uDOu usN.