Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-08-28
TRAWLER TURNED INTO RAIDER
Submarine Captures and transforms
Vessel Into Coastwise Pirate.


Of the trawler Triumph, which was
seized by German submarine yes
terday, a German crew put aboard,
the vessel armed and started on a
raiding expedition against the de-
fenseless fleet of fishing smaks npe-
rating on the Grand Banks. Every
precantion has been taken, 1t was
said, to prevent the raider slipping
through the line stretched around
the fishing region.
The department through Admiral
Benson, Acting Secretary. requested
newspapers to make no mention of
the type of craft being employed in
the hunt. 1t was said, however,
these are numerous and swift
enough to make the eventual appre-
hension of the converted fishing YES
sci absolutely certain unless the en-
envy crew destroys the ship or at
tempts to engage one Of the pursuers
in unequal combat.
Can't Keep 1t Up.
Officials here expressed the belief
to-day that the German commander
realized the utter hopelessness of his
venture continuing operations for
more than "a hours. Some consid-
cred that rendezvous with the sub
marine had been arranged by the
crew of the Triumph, after which
the Triumph would be sunk so that
the patrol tiotillas would find 1t nec-
essary to continue their hunt for
several days. This would result, the
German officers might hope, in
large force being held along the
Grand Banks, lessening the strength
Of the coast guard at other points.
The answer made to this possibility
Is that adequate forces are now in
service at every vital point to pro-
tect all ships.
First News.
The only dispatches received by
the department concerning the new
est maEoeuvre Of the German sub
marine notilla off the American coast
was brief message from the COM
mander Of the First Naval District at
Boston. This dispatch merely con-
firmed the landing Of the captain and
crew of the Triumph and reiterated
the story told by these sailors. Six
hours earlier this information was
given to the Navy Department
through press dispatches and was
flashed by naval wireless to officers
in command Of patrol forces in the
vicinity
Time Too Limited.
Admiral Benson expressed the
opinion it would be impossible for
the Germans in the limited time at
their disposal to equip the Triumph
properly as a raider. Such a task,
he pointed out, would occupy the
New York navy yard nearly week.
With crew of II men, however,
armed with revolvers and a machine
gun or two, the Triumph would be
able to capture and destroy a num-
Der Of small craft. The maximum
military advantages the Germans
can hope to obtain, it was held, was
the depletion Of the supply of canned
fish for the army.
Doesn't Credit Report.
Admiral Benson refused to place
much credence in the declaration
made by the submarine commander
to the captain Of the Triumph that
six U-boats now are operating in
American waters. Very careful
checking of all Information regard
ing the activities of these craft has
convinced naval officials that only
three have been actively engaged.
The acting secretary warned against
the public placing too much hope in
stories Of German submersihles be.
Ing destroyed. In this connection he
divulged the fact that the claim of a
British merchantmen having sunk a
submarine after long range gun
duel already has been definitely con-
troverted. 1t was on this same sub
marine, and several days later, that
Capt. Evans, Of the steamer Peni-
stone. was detained after his ship
had been captured and sunk.
Fishing Schooner Sunk.
A Canadian Atlantic Port, Aug. 81.
The fishing schooner Lucille
Schnare, OF Lunenberg, N. S., was
sunk late to-day by the trawler Tri-
umph, which German submarine
crew has converted into a raider,