The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1918-03-14

that time Germany has lost at least
80 per cent. of her submarines, and
that she is making every effort to
conceal the seriousness of her losses
because of the difficulty of obtaining
crews for her undersea boats. This
statement lends interest to the fol-
lowing translation of the story of a
German submarine that was lured
into a trap and narrowly escaped
destruction. 1t is particularly signif
icant, too, because it is told in Die
Illustrite Zeitung, and especially pre-
pared from the German viewpoint.
is that If this boat had such a series
OF hairbreadth escapes. a lot of other
submarines must be less lucky. Here
is the story. as we find it translated
in a London paper:
At midday the watch reported 4
tank steamer sailing directly toward
the submarine from an E.N.E,. direc-
ton. Her masts. briuGe, and funnel
could be seen above the horizon.
TankSteamerS are very tough, be-
cause they have strong bulkheadS to
protect their precious cargo; q tor
pedO must hit the engines. placed AZ
the stern, and then the vessel is done
for. The submarine dare only to
show a small part of the periscope
above the water, and then only for
very short space of time.
The torpedo was fred at dis
tance OF 700 yards, but the steamer
was going at Il greater pace than had
been allowed for, and there Was no
explosion A miss was recorded.
Then she turned right round, and
started setting her course in the op-
posite direction. When she had gone
some little distance. the U-boat en-
erged and fired Il shot from her quick
hope appeared to be to emerge, fire.
and get away. The order was given:
pressure on all the tanks, man the
guns, let the engines run clear, and
full speed ahead"
In the galley stood a bucket con-
tanning the fish that had been caught
that morning. They would not be
wanted now.
The submarine emerged, and the
hatch undcr the conning-tower was
opened. y perfect torrent Of water
poured in; but that did not matter.
all were prepared to swim sooner or
later. Now the way was clear. The
steamer was some couple Of miles
away. now, firing as she went.
"fou-you have not got us yet by
long way said the U-boat. quickly
returning fire; but whether the shots
were successful it could not tell as
the glass OF the periscope lazy in the !
conning-tower. The
engines were set at high. speed Far
higher than they ought to have been,
but when the last card is at stake.
Those OF the crew who were not
occupied below busted themselves
oy carrying shells to the guns. The
lieutenant suddenly felt his feet
blown sideways yard apart; in
cloud OF smoke he staggered against
he gun. The crew. thought the Door
elbow would have had both his legs
lown off. but marvelously enough he
7as only hit by few splinters. The
hell had passed between the legs or
ne gunner OF the forward gun, the
etonation shatterinE his ear-drum.
he reserve ammunition showed
onsiderable amount OF damage
hells were dashing in among the
rev. "A rail was blown away. a
illor from Leipzig sat in the stern
almly steering with the hand-rudder
ccording to the verbal instructions
the helmsman. the compasses being
ow out Of gear
BY this time it was possible to
aise the periscopes out OF the conn
lg-tower. destroyer Of St.
rides, was announced. Right!
here she was, the shells from her
our guns mingling with those from
he tank-steamer
This type OF destroyer could do
hlrty knots an hour. and carried
'uhS OF 4-lnch callibCr. The order
anne: Change round 20 wcster-
y course"
Inc gunn"rs were 50 dcafcncd by
nc noise of their own Guns that II
vas no. only JOS ,5'c Verbally IT,
IiT"'' ''o r.iu- o. u.. un. Tho
''o'l.''' ""S - !ar "0ny that it was
not n"'"ssrr, 90 H." ~ irr any more
80 attention va turned 30 the new
roe rms Nas no ord mary destroyer.
put 4 l-bOat destroyer Of the Fox
glove class, about twice as big as the
o-boat, but NOT quicker. Al this mo-
inent III" second mechanic announced
that he could repair the damaged con-
hopes rose beyond all /
Fire Range 4.OG0-De1c.tion 4
left"
Soon the towering watcr-columns
raised by tho ShnllS uDr. nlnr1. L.. IL -