The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-07-24
U.B0ATS OFF COAST.
THREE BARGES SUNK BY ENE.
MY OFF CAPE COD.
Two Bound for New York Attacked
Without Northumberland on
Shore Witness One Sided Fight
HydrOairpianes Render No Assist
ancc.


submarine attacked tow of the east
ernmost point of Cape Cod TODAY
sank three barges, set a fourth and
their tug on fire and dropped foul
shells on the mainland. The action
lasted an hour and was unchallcngec
except for two hydroplanes, which
circled over the u-bOat, causing her to
submerge for only moment to re-
appear and resume firing.
The crew of the two, numbering Al
and including three women and five
children, escaped amid the shell fire in
life boats. Several were wounded,
but only one seriously. John BotO-
vich, an Austrian, of the crew of the
tug. had his right arm near the
shoulder torn away by fragment
shell. The minor injuries of the 9TH
ers were from shell splinters.
| The barges were in tow of the
tug Perth Amboy, and were bound
from Gloucester for New York. One
was loaded with stone but the others
were light, being on their return trip
after bringing coal to New England
The attack was without warning ami
only the poor craftsmanship Of the
German gunners permitted the escape
of the crews.
The onesided fight took place three
miles south OF the Orleans coastguard
station, which is located midway be-
tween Chatham, at the elbow, and
Highland light and the etreme tip
on the cape. The firing was heard for
miles and brought thousands to the
| beach. from which the flashes of the
guns and the outline of the u-boat
were plainly visible. Possible DANCE
to the onlookers was not thought OF
until a shell whizzed over their heads
and splashed in pond a mile inland
Three other shells buried themselves
in the sand of the beach.
The survivors of the tow. with the
exception of two injured, were taken
TO the Orleans coast guard station
communication with which by tele-
phohe under navy regulations was not
permitted. No information could be
obtained from official sources on the
cape. Botovich and another man from
one OF the barges, both of whose arms
had been injured, were removed TO =
private hospital. Later Botovich was
taken to hospital in Boston. The
survivors lost all of their personal ef
fects and some of them who were
having their turn in their hunks when
the u-boat appeared came ashore in
their night clothing
| The Perth Amboy with her four
barges in line was putting along leis-
urely just off the shoals, two miles
from shore at IL O'Clock this morning
when the u-boat of an estimated
length of 400 feet rose suddenly one
mile seaward and trained her guns on
the tow A moment later and with
out warning to the crew shel.
struck the second barge amidships.
The empty craft doubled up and sank
so quickly that her crew barely had
time to lower and enter their small
boat. Capt. j. II. Tapley Of the tug
had sounded his whistle as soon as the
u-boat was sighted and ordered the
barges abandoned. The first shot was
followed by rain of shells that drop-
ped on and all about the Perth Am
boy and her barges. A lucky shot
next sank the last barge Meanwhile
hits on the tug had set her afire. but
she stood by her barges to the finish. /
The third barge in the line, the
smallest of all, proved a hard mark |
ana the German gunners occupied
half an hour in disposing of her.
By this time the firing had alarmed ,
the whole cape and cries for assist
ance were sent broadcast. No Ameri-
can warships. however, appeared to be
in the vicinity and the exhibition of
German gunnery went on methodical-
ly. Then two hydro-airplanes rose
from the station at Chatham and fly
ing low dartcd toward the enemy Is
though to attack. 1t could not be
seen that they dropped any bombs but
the Germans evidently Anticipated an
attack from the air for they stopped
firing and elevated their guns again.
the hydro -airplanes. They did not
hre' however, and n moment latcr
The planes circled about where the
enemy was last seen and then turned ;
nose toward their station. Scarcely i
had they reached shore when the {