The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1918-07-05
lion-Hearted British Crews Give
Good Account OF Themselves
in Sea Warfare.
MANY DEEDS OF HEROISM
Led by Clever Shippers, Sailors Bat
tie Against Almost Hopeless Odds,
Winning Victory Frequently by
Seantiest Of Margins.

Winning Victory Frequently b,
seantiest Of Margins
Sometimes Ii Is illuminate
Ing 10 look deeper into shipping re-
ports than the statement. for Instance
that in three weeks six. four and
eleven British ships of more than ,GOU
tons have been sunk" Doing So one
finds that In one month~mid-M March
TO mld-April--Gi vessels were at
tackled by U-boats and escaped.
From the logs of 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.
tramp proceeding at lcisurely
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 dnwned 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, Il German submn-
rine 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 astcrn. firing ut
her all the time. The steamships
gun crew were very cool and planted
their shells all round the submarine :,
and the U.boat did not like 1t a bit.
Then the steamship put up II smoke
screen and the U-boat diyed In n
panic. apparently expecting instant
dissolution.
Second u-Boat Appears.
She had hardly disappeared when
another U-boat about 800 feet long.
and mounting guns fore and aft of the
coming tower broke surface. The
smoke screen was no longer service
able. for the wind WIS blowing the
wrong way; so the steamship let fly
nj her second antagonist, who replied
with vigor. shrapnel sprinkllng the
tramp's decks. For ralf an hour the
fight went ON. Then one of the steam
ships shells fell close 10 the U-boat.
which dlved and vanished under the
water just as II patrol boat appeared
oil the scene and loosed off II couple
of devastating rounds. Ii was a fine
performance TO beat OFF two pirate
ships In such "a short space of time,
and master and guns crew received
COMMUNICATION from my lords of the
admiralty.
In another case II was duel both
OF gunnery and seamanship. Proceed
Ing steadfastly on her course. Brit
ish steamship heard gunhrc 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
n point or two on the starboard bow
tn the northward. Instantly all
hands were ordered 10 their stations.
Helm was put full over. and the U-boat
brought astern. fire being opened on
the enemy. while tirebox was light
ed. II was difficult to distinguish the
enemy-~a large boat. apparently |
two guns~-which maneu- |
vered backward and forward across
the steamships course In an endeavor
10 bring both her guns into action ut
the same time.
Skipper Gets Fritz In Tanole.
But the British skipper was n better
seaman than the German. and he skill
fully thwarted the enemy's scheme.
and got Fritz In no end of n tangle.
Now and again the U.hoat scored a
hit. The steamships wireless aerials
were carried away. her mainmast was
holed. the exhaust steamplpe was per-
forated and the starboard lifeboat
and dinghy damaged. But that did
bot bother the steamship or her crew.
The latter We're grinning at the gun
ners, who were having an exnsperat-
ns time of IL. Just imagine crew
of expert gunners with fine gun, and
A burning desire To strafe subma-
rinc, finding that their gun platform
has collapsed. and that with "sub"
As target they have TO fire more or
ess by guesswork.
But ms the navy men always do.
'hese gunners buckled To. The gun
kicked abominably. and the sighter
had hts eyes bluckened aud hls face
ut, but despite this the shooting was
90 close and too hot for the U-hoat.
shlch kept at respectful distance.
The bos'n and Sparks" the wireless
man. took the risk OF the U.boat's
IRE and repaired the aerials. and the
plugged ahead for harbor,
But II was some hours later before the
pirate drew OF. batiied by the indom-
table pluck OF the British sailormeu
Crew Below Decks Also Heroes.
And just word here for the black