The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-06-11

big ship. We've got her." said the
captain as his bow hung right over
the divers hull but he was just Sec
ond too late, and as the ship plowed
by within six feet or the foe those on
the bridge could plainly hear the chug,
chug, chug of the divers engine, and
her fo'cI watch, leaning over the rail,
looked right down on the decks of the
submarine as she swept along the side
l0fat1ie big ship with her stern towards
the liner and her bow outwards at an
angle of about thirty degrees.
BY the following morning the convoy
of liners had separated, each one run
ming ION her own" for her destined
point. That danger was passed. For
some days all went peacefully, then
the wireless cracked the news that
German undersea raiders were active
off the American coast and again ther3
was tension until yankee sealights
loomed up through the mist No
sight was ever more welcome than
group of American warships met with
near shore and when a big dirigible
shot out Of the low lying clouds and
took station over the main mast the
last sigh of relief was drawn.
This morning came the crowded
harbor and for once, at least, the Ger
mans had failed.
IF she has stern torpedo tubes,
we're gone" was the captains
thought. His attempt to ram had failed
and quickly he changed his plan,
throwing his wheel hard to port to
bring his amidships howitzer and his
stern gun into play 1t was only a
second till the big ship veered Then
the diver, partly submerged, came
abreast of the amidship. She was bare
seventy yards away
Give her cylinder quick" yelled
an officer who had sped down the boat
deck. An instant later the roar of the
big gun rang out and it's conclusion
rocked the ship as it's huge depth
bomb sped on its way Just thirty Sec
onds later the stern gun fired at about
300 feet and the shot was seen to
strike, just at the base of the divers
coming tower. Instantly there was a
terrific explosion, great burst of
smoke and flame. When 1t cleared
away the submarine was gone.
"Are you confident we got herr" l
asked the captain.
Confident" he replied. "I saw the
explosion clearly from the bridge. You
can be sure she's gone. Now you see
how we must watch. Undoubtedly the
sub saw us before we could be sure
what she was. Had we not seen her
for one minute more, 1t is pretty sure
you would have had to swim" and he
smiled grimly.
"Of course we are all proud and
glad we got her, but don't forget If
there is credit for anyone, most of it
should- go to my mates and lookout,
whose quick eyes gave us the time
to maneuver for victory"
Comparatively few of the passengers |
were on deck when the action came. |
One of them was famous commander /
or one of the allied navies, whoe for |
three years has hunted and DESTROYED !
submarines and on whose head it is |
reported Germany has set a price. I |
asked him If he was sure the subma- |
rine was sunk. He is a man of few |
words and he would say was:
Il saw it just like the captain. and !
my view is just the same as his"
Another passenger who saw the bat |
tie was ]. G. Walters. of London. He !
was standing on the deck immediately /
above the howitzer when the subma- !
rlne came racing alongside of the ship. |
MY nrst knowledge came" he said, |
when / heard feet pattering along tbe |
deck above me and a voice called !
give her a cylinder quick
instantly the howitzer crashed al |
most under my feet. took one look !
over the side and there was the sub- |
marine less than 100 yards away. I !
didn't look again.
u thought of my wife and children
and started for lifebelt quick / |
don't think there is any doubt we got
her as at the range the gunners sim
ply couldn't miss"
Less than an hour later. the fog hav-
ing cleared away. the convoy had re-
assembled and once again the DESTROY
ers were on guide. 1t was lust II
o'clock when the third DESTROYER on the
portside ran mp her signal Submarine
IN sight" and watchers from our ship
saw her leap ahead at racing speed.