Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1917-09-13

VIC Sau uSdr Tue WOOmpn-WO0mpn"
of shells dropping into the water
around us. We have made up our
minds that it 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
Illuminated 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 Hat, 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 NEST of the
monitors We're named after American
generals.
They We're used on work that took
them constantly into the mine fields.
and for that reason they must have
special protection against mines and
j torpedoes. Just how this is accom-
plished do not feel at liberty to tell.
! but because of it an amusing incident
occurred. The first motor launch was
running Mt rather low speed in toward
the monitor, so as to come alongside.
Y All of 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 NJ l.. had run high
and dry on to the shelf which forms
a part of the more or less intricate
that modern monitors carry. They had
to use a 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.
l 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 refrained from telling what ac-
tually happened. but in general it is
true that the Germans must have re-
allied what occurred on the first expe-
dition, and they were ready. The ele-
ment of surprise, which saved us all
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
a 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 Il devil or god. He
shouted orders to his men as though
he were at maneuvers and fshed us
out of the water with boat hook as
coolly as if he We're merely picking up
buoy and couldn't understand what
all the racket was about.
AFTER he got me on board l saw
him fall with the blood squirting from
his leg. He grabbed bit Of rope,
made tourniquet himself, using the
barrel of his revolver to twist it tight,
and directed the work until he had all
of us on board.
How we ever penetrated that bar
rier Of fire and lead and steel l don't
know. but we came through and limp
ed into port under our own power"
AS l say. i 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 were given break
fast. In the ward room one Of the
officers told us some interesting things
about their work.
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.
| "All along the coast we have buoys
anchored to mark fire positions. We
cruise along, pick up one of the buoys
and let go few shots. OF course we
know the range and where the German
forts and batteries are. although we
can't see them. Something's we have
hydroplanes observing for us, so that
we can tell whether we're on the tar
get. but we have been doing it so long
and we have the coast so well plotted