Bridgeton pioneer., 1917-03-08


Hit Submersibe at Second Shot After
Running Fight of Forty Minutes In
the Bay of Biscay.
Seated in the focastle, the Breton
crew of the French liner Guyane,
which has just reached New York, told
of the feat Of their two comrades-the
cannoneers-whom modestly declined to
tell how they sank German subma-
rlne on Jan. % in the bay of Biscay.
I'VE only obeyed orders" This was
now First Glass Gunner Jean Bour-
donnais, thirty-two. and Jacques Bau-
det, his assistant, dismissed the ac-
count of a running sea fight, lasting
forty minutes, between a merchant
man and U boat, in which the sub
mersible was sent to the bottom by
shell from the IS millimeter gun
mounted astern.
The Captains Story.
But Captain Louis Rousselot told
more. The captain gave a graphic de.
scription OF how his vessel had en-.
countered the submarine on the second
day after leaving port.
"Yes, it was quite an adventure" he
admitted. And there is one less Ger
man shark to trouble seafarers. You
want the whole story from the begin.
ming? Well, you shall have it.
of Jan. 21 under blue skies and light
south wind. The wind from the south
brought taste of the spring with it.
despite that all the trees along the
banks of the Gironde are still leafess.
We passed down the river without in
cident and after ten hours were in the
open sea.
Bound For CoaIing Port.
mo, of course not; we had no lights"
he exclaimed. 1--WE headed for Fayal,
in the Azores, to take on coal, as it
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. Nothing hap
pened until the following day. We
saw a few vessels bound north, but
none which appeared of a suspicious
character.
"The following afternoon, which was
Sunday, we were sailing along as
peacefully as you please, never looking
for trouble, when shortly after six
bells g p. m0 large vessel appeared
about three miles distant off our star
board quarter. She was painted black,
with dull war gray superstructure,
had one funnel and two masts. A few
moments later a submarine darted out
from behind her and headed directly
for us.
"'Crick! Crack!' And a big splash
told where shell had fallen about 100
meters short off our starboard quarter.
Decided to Give Battle.
"Stnce the German wanted a fight, I
decided to give it to him. Why not?
No use giving up my ship before I
must. Just little fight. 1t was such
good weather it would be a shame to
miss the opportunity.
Il ordered the crew to the boat sta
tions, told the helmsman to head south,
thus pointing the Guyane's stern to-
ward Mr.. German. AS we were swing
ing round 'Pouf! and he had fred an
other SHE'LL evidently thinking that we
were going to make a run for it. It
came much closer-Only about seventy
five meters short
Il went aft to direct the gunners,
We let them have one shot, but we
overshot. While we were reloading
the submarine fired again, the shot
passing over our heads with wild
scream.
when you're ready I told the
men, take careful aim and show him
we are Frenchmen.' A la morti Pouf!
1t was wonderful shot-right be-
tween the shoulder blades. Our Sec
ond shot caught Mr.. German. to be
exact, just abaft the coming tower.
The submarine stopped and fired no
more. She turned in a half circle of
white water. knew we should have
no more steel conversation from him.
Dld stop to pick up the crew? What
was the use? There was the other car
go boat near by, and, besides. / was
some distance off by that time and
headed for New York."
Crew Describes Sinking. !
The captains simple narrative was
supplemented by the crew, who told at
great length of the splendid aim of til,
gunners.
How did we know that the German
was nit! they interrogated. why.
how do you know when anything is
hit? There was a resounding thwack.
! big geyser of water. the submarine
stopped and sank. That's all there
was to it.
"Have you decided what you are go
ing to do With the $4,000 francs $4,000,
! awarded by the Syndicat de Paris to
the crew which sinks the first q boat?"
, the crew was asked.
Each of us has pot a nlan in his