Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-01-12
GUN CREW HOLDS OFF
U-BOAT FOR HOURS
[Continucd from First Page. ]

port beam. Upon looking at the
steamer, which appeared very sus-
picious through the glasses, u san
appeared on her. Both guns were
trained on the steamer. The armed
guard commander then went aloft to
obtain a better view. When he was
half way up the supposed steamer
turned out to be n submarine ana
opened fire. The time was then
about 7.3O.
Steamer opens Fire
"The Luckenbach immediately
opened fire with both guns. The
fire two or three shots fired by the
submarine went about 1000 yards
short. She was firing at long range,
The Luckenbach's shots also fell
short AS the submarine appeared
to be closing in. the captain was
told to put the stern of the Lucken-
bach to her. which he did. Distress
signals were sent out by wireless.
The submarine closed in to about
10 900 yards. Early in the battle one
shot from the submarine landed on
the deck forward on the port side
and exploded in the guns crews
quarters, starting n fire which par
TALLY destroyed the quarters and
burned the effects of the guns
crews. The same shot burst the fire
main. The fire main was blocked off
and water finally got to the fire.
Steam also was turned on the flames,
Shortly after the first shot landed,
another shot struck the quartermas-
ter's room without doing much dam
age.
"A shot landed near the stern
and exploded, putting the after gun
out of commission.
U-boat Uses 225 Rounds
"At least 225 rounds were fired
by the submarine out of which
there were only nine clean hits, the
commander reports. Pieces of shell
were falling all around the deck.
Two shots landed on the port side
forward. striking the oilers room
and putting large hole in the side;
one landed on the port side at the
water line, hitting the fresh water
tank and destroying most of the
fresh water supply. Another land
ed in the petty officers mess room
and exploded, putting the ash-hoist
out of commission and bursting the
steam pipe; also wounding two men,
one mess boy and one fireman. One
shot passed through the weather
screen on the bridge and landed in
the cargo, exploding but not start
ing fire. Pieces of shell hit Louth-
er, one of the armed guard, in three
places. One of the ships crew who
was carrying ammunition forward
was hit. Another shell exploded in
the engine room, wounding the first
and third engineers and putting the
engine out of commission. Bell, one
of the guns crew, was going up the
forward ladder carrying ammunition
when the shell that landed in the
quartermaster's room exploded, the
fumes from the shell binding him
for about two hours.
Destroyer Hears Distress Call
The distress calls sent out had
been answered by United States de-
stroyer at $40, which was asked
how quickly it could arrive at the
scene. Two hours was the reply.
The captain of the Luckenbach said:
Too late.' Look for boats Don't
surrender came back the message,
and the Luckenbach replied
Never
AT about II a. m. smoke was
sighted on the horizon. The vessel
was headed toward the smoke to
lessen the distance the DESTROYER
would have to come. 1t was shortly
after this that the engines were
temporarily put out of commission
by an explosive shell. At about 11.3O
the destroyer fired her first shot at