Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-07-03
LiOn-Hearted British Crews Give
Good Account Of Themselves
in Sea Warfare.
MANY DEEDS or REROISM
Led by Clever Shippers, Sailors Bat
tie Against Almost Hopeless Odds,
Winning Victory Frequently by
Scantiest of Margins.

Winning Victory Frequently by
Scantiest of Margins.
MISUNDERSTANDING l. IS iliuminat-
ing to look deeper into shipping re-
ports than the statement. for instance,
that ''in three weeks six. four aud
eleven British ships of more than lego
tons have been sunk" Doing so, one
finds that in one northumberland
TO mid-April-64 vessels were at
tackled by U-boats and escaped.
From the logs of a few tramp ships
IN the custody of the admiralty which
have come safely to port with their
cargoes in recent days some typical
tales may be told.
A tramp proceeding at a leisurely
six knots, entered the danger zone.
All precautions were taken, extra
loOkouts were posted and the guns
crew-for she was defensively armed
were standing round their piece"
The day had just dawned and there
was every promise Of fine day. An
other three miles away to port, with
the red of the morning sun glinting
on her gray back, a German subma-
Fine was sighted.
AS she was seen the U-bOat opened
FIRE and shells dropped all round the
steamship, which shifted her helm and
put the U-boat dead astarn, firing at
her shl the lime. The steamships
gun crew were very cool and planted
their shells all round the submarine;
and the U-boat did not like it bit.
Then the steamship put up smoke
screen aud the U-boat Owed in Il
panic. apparently expecting instant
dissolution.
Second U-5oat Appears.
She had hardly disappeared when
another U-boat, about 300 feet long.
and mounting guns fore and aft of the
coming tower broke surface. The
slnoke screen was no longer service
able, for the wind was blowing the
wrong way so the steamship let fly
at her second antagonist, who replied
with yigor. shrapne sprinkling the
tramp's decks. For ralf an hour the
fight went on. Then one of the steam
ships shells fell close to the U-boat
which dived and vanished under the
water just as a patrol boat appeared
on the scene and lOoSed Off a couple
of devastating rounds. 1t was a fine
performance to beat off two pirate
ships in such a short space of time
and master and guns crew received
commentator from my lords of the
admiralty.
+ In another case it was duel both
of gunnery and seamanship. Proceed
ing steadfastly on her course. Brit
ish steamship heard gunfre in the
distance, but could see nothing of the
enemy. The propeller thrust her
ahead.
The white cliffs of Albion were lift
ing on the horizon when, just as twi-
light was falling. U-boat appeared
point or two on the starbOard bow
To the uOrthward. Instantly all
hands were ordered to their stations.
Helm was put full over. and the U-boat
brought astern, fire being opened on
the enemy, while a firebox was light
ed. 1t was difficult to distinguish the
enemy-a large boat apparently
mounting two guns--which maneu-
vered backward and forward across
the steamships course in an endeavor
to bring both her guns into action ut
the same time.
Skipper Gets Fritz in Tanele.
But the British skipper was better
fully thwarted the enemy'S scheme.
and got Fritz in no end of a tangle.
Now and again the U-boat scored
hit The steamships wireless aerials
were carried away, her mainmast was
holed. the exhaust steampipe was per
forated and the starhoard lifebat
and dinghy damaged. But that did
not bother the steamship or her crew.
The latter were grinnlng at the gun
ners. who were having an eXasperat-
ing time of it, Just imagine crew
of expert gunners with a fine gun, and
a burning desire 10 strafe a subma-
rine, finding that their gun platform
has collapsed, and that with sub"
as target they have TO fire mere or
less by guesswork.
But as the navy men always do,
these gunners buckled to. The gun
kicked ahOminably. and the slghter
had his eyes blackened and his face
cut. but despite this the shooting was
too close and too hot for the U-boat,
(which kept at a respectful distance.
The bos'n and Sparks" the wireless
man. took the risk OF the U-boat's
fire and repaired the aerlals, and the
steamer plugged ahead for harbor,
But 1t was some hours later before the
pirate drew off. bafIled by the indom-
table pluck of the British sailormen
Crew Below Decks Also Heroes.
And Just a word here for the BLACK
squad" Both watches of engineers
and stokers were below throughout
the action, and though a shell came
through the bunkerS aGd MED the
stokehold with coa and ashes, they
carried on" with amazing pluck:
Here is another fine bit of work. A
big ship in ballast, standing out of
the water like i cathedral, was nav
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