New-York tribune., 1918-07-15
Steamer Attacked by Gun,
fire 800 Miles to East,
but Distances Raider
Many Shots Exchanged
Crew Anxious to Continue
Battle, but Skipper Orders
All Speed Ahead

AN ATLANTIC PORT. July 14.-Of-
6eers Of big British freighter of good
speed and we'll armed reported on ar
rival here to-day that they had had an
encounter on July with German
r.boat about 800 miles east of Cape
Race and had run away from her.
The attack was made virtually in the
zone where the Norwegian bark Manx
King was sunk on the same day and
where the Norwegian steamship Aug
valid was sent TO the bottom on June 23
The freighter which came in to-day
left a British port on or about July 2.
She took an unusual course and was
heading down for the Newfoundland
coast when she was surprised by the
German. Up to that time she had seen
neither periscope nor submarine. AS
usual the raider picked the late after
noon for its attack and worked to
position so that the freighter would
be between him and the setting sun.
Despite the camouiage of merchant
vessels, they loom up conspicuously
against the sunset.
Raider Used Guns
1t is assumed that the raider had
either exhausted his torpedoes or was
holding them in reserve for troopships,
as he depended entirely on gunhre to
bring the merchantmen to stop.
Officers on the Britisher expressed
the belief that the U-boat had been
ahead OF them and closer up than two
miles at one time, but in manmuvring
for position to put them between her
and the sun the U-boat let them get too
far away.
Coming to the surface as high as he
could, the raider was observed by the
after watch. He was fully two miles
astern and moving in the same direc-
tion as the freighter. The German had
been jockeying, it was thought, to get
broadside view of the merchantmen,
but bungled the job and was forced to
come up directly astern.
As soon as the lookout aft reported
the German the bridge officer observed
the enemy and held the freighter dead
ahead throughout the chase.
U-Boat Abandons Chase
Officers on the British vessel would
not say what speed their vessel was
capable of making. but it is known
that under forced draught she can cut
through the seas at seventeen and one
half knots. This is about three knots
faster than the U boat could make, and
the German soon was aware of it.
Within about four minutes after the
chase began the German fred, but the
she'll went wide of its mark. The
stern gun of the British vessel an
swered, sending three shots before the
U-boat replied with its second shot,
Two more shots came from the Ger
man. and they, like the others, fell
short. 1t was assumed the raider was
trying TO damage the merchantman's
rudder
The after gun of the freighter was
worked as rapidly as it could be loaded,
and within fifteen minutes the German
ceased firing and dropped far astern.
Although the British vessel was crowd
ing on steam. there was not enough in
crease in her speed to account for the
sudden gap between her and the raider.
and it is assumed that the enemy
slowed down and abandoned the chase.
Because of her speed and heavy guns
the crew Of the British vessel wanted
to slow up and give the German
Tight. but the skipper ruled that it was
more profitable to run away.
Some Of the ships officers thought
that the chase was abandoned because
the enemy had been disabled by one or
more OF the shots from their vessel.