The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1918-02-01
Thrilling Battles MN u
Beats ReUeaIed BY Records
of The Macy Department
BY RALPH o. PAINE.

G seek maven and pound the bar with
Nv hhlry lists strong liquors magnify the
tales, and one concludes that the kaIs-
ers undersea fleet must be wned ont ~,
now The navy's records are less fanclfuI strictly
huherihg TO the motto OF the man from Missouri
HV'e ~ the account of an action fought by "A
largo steamer which leaves no room for doubt
thAt one very busy U-boat was suddenly renewed
,.oih 'he active list Of the imperial German navy
II IL advisable to omit the name Of the CHIEF hoa,
"""h mate who commanded the gun crews JIa
""9 promoted to warrant rank as "A reward for
the ieat ana is now stationed ashore bur ne NAV
>" " sea again la charge OF another lot of gun-
h"rs ana if he should be taken prisoner the apen,
would not love him for whit ne ana IN 81 ,,,ss,a,,
submarine In his official report he states;
weather hazy. Saw a submarine firing on n
1"pN"' schooner which shortly after blew up
,h"hged course to bring the submarine on our
S'"ro"ard Dean about 5000 yards distant and lost
Sght OF her In haze. Continued on this coursa for
TWO hours ana then resumed our Original rourss
Al 200 y. m. the submarine appeared ont NJ the
HaNe NJ Z'oOO yards on starbOard beam She
immediately opened fire We changed course IN
prlhg her three points tho starboard quarter
ana returned the FIRE
The engagement lasted 20 minutes during
which time the submarine fred about 40 shots
scoring one hit under our port counter foot from
the water and causing u leak We fired 27 shots
The twenty sixth shot was seen to hit her lust
forward OF the forward gun and IA cloud of flame
anu dhrk gray smoke burst from the hatches The
crew of the submarine left the gun and ran nfr
Almost Instantly the submarine sank bow first
the stern lifting high out OF the water so that the
propellers could be seen revolving. The steamer
was leaking and temporary repairs were made by
the crew"
When the ship reached her foreign port of des
unation and reported the victory an ohlclnl in
qury ordered by the French government A
naval lieutenant conducted II with great care and
confirmed the verdict OF the American gunners
The steamer fought with the American flag flying
he stated In his written opinion. firing - shots In
half an hour. The distance Increased about 100
meters for each shot, The twcnty.sxth shot ex.
podcd producing thick black smoke, which was
visible TO all on shlpboard Such an explosion
must have been produced In the submarine Itself
lilo said In summing w the evidence:
'ihe result OF the inquiry is that the tight has
been very well conducted ana that tho men have
shown very fine spirit, doing honor to tho Amer
lean navy. The conclusion may be drawn that the
submarine was hit aud probably sunk"
This nrst.cuss shooting the submarine
steadily drawing away until when struck she was
auuO yards and more. or three land miles from
the steamer. binoculars and telescope sights en-
ahed the gunncrs to distinguish her with clear
ness aud TO note the effects of the she'll which
ended her wrctched career. II was her command
rr's intention to move beyond range and continue
the action on the chance that he had the bigger
guns. bat he misculcuatrd, and paid the price.
Il seemed cruel slant OF fortune that this
American steamer. which so brilliantly baggcd a
submarine should have accidentally burned at sea
on her next voyage, There was time to stretch
hose or muster the crew, Ablnzc Ia an instant.
she was one vast furnace while the men raced for
the boats With death at their heels An hands got
away. including the navy guuncrs and their cruise
In opcu boats was made without severe suffering
II was an In the days work
Very similar to this sucvvSSful encounter was
the adventure oG the stvatnvr silver She'll In this
instance also thy French ministry ot marine added
It's opinion that the submarine had probably been
hu aud sunk Tho chief gunner Wen promotion
shortly after this statement vuS issued by Secrv-
gary Daniels
William J. Clara ~ New NnrN. chief turret cap
tain and commander 90 tho naval gun crew of tho
silver shell Is deserving ~ promotion which we
nry NOW considering. All the other members ot tho
crew a. welt and what they have done. deserve
great credit and distinction. The chief turrct cap
tain Is IA very capable imam. lie Is M enlisted man
who has seen nearly II years ~ service IN the
navy and Inns Won successive promotions by proven
capacity For his work he deserves the very best
that can by done for htn,"
Here MAS q man NJ aud ready for his ioh, and
he knew how to put his own spirit and experience
+ into the team play ~ his guuucrS, An American
naval officer ot high rank detailed on special duty
+ NJ a French post conducted AN inquiry and found
pleasure ln writing to Washington that "lhe mas
ter 81 the Silver shell particularly enthusiastic
/ oyer the splendid work of the Jurrrt captain and