Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1918-07-22
SHELLS.
ARE DROPPED
ON SHORE BY
HUN SEA WOLF
No Lives Lost and Only Two
Men Injured. Cape Cod
Dwellers Witness Most
Thrilling War Spectacle
Republican A. p. Leased Wire1

Republican A. p. Leased Wirel |
ORLEANS, Mass. July 21.-An enc |
my submarine attacked a tow off the |
oasternmost point of Cape Cod today, |
sank three barges, set a fourth and
theih tugs on fire and dropped four
shells on the mainland. The action
lasted an hour and was unchallengeG
except for two hydroplanes from the
Chatham aviation station, which circled
over the U-boat causing her to sub
merge for only moment to reappear
and resume firing.
The crews of the tow, numbering Al
and including three women and five
children, escaped amid the shell fire in
lifeboats.. Several We're wounded. but
only one seriously. This happened to
be John BOtovich. an Austrian, of the
tug crew. His right arm was torn away
near the shoulder by a shell fragment.
Attacked Without Warning
The barges, in tow of the tug Perth
AmbOy of the Lehigh Valley railroad
were bound from Gloucester for New
York One was loaded with stone but
the others were light being on their
return trip after bringing coal to New
England.
The attack was without warning and
only the poor craftsmanship of the
German gunnerS permitted the escape
Of the crews.
The one sided fight took place three
miles south of the Orleans coast guard
station at the tip of the cape. The fir
ing brought thousands to the beach.
The flashes of the guns and the outline
of the U-boat were plainly seen. Dan
ger was not though of until a shell
whirled over the heads and splashed
in a pond a mile inland. Three other
shells buried themselves in the sands
of the beach.
Sleeping When U-Boat Approached
The survivors with the exception OF
two injured, were taken to the Orleans
coast guard station, communication
With which by telephone under navy
regulat ions was not permitted. No in
formation could be obtained from Of
ficial sources on the cape. Botovich and
another man from one of the barges,
both of whose arms had been injured,
were removed to a private hospital
Later Botovich was taken to Boston.
Some of the survivors who were sleep
ing when the L boat appeared came
ashore in night clothing.
The tug, with her four barges in line,
was putting along leisurely two mile,
from shore at II o'clock this morning
when the U-boat of an estimated
length of 400 feet, rose suddenly one
mile seaward and trained her guns on
the tow. A moment later a shell struck
the second barge amidships. The emp
ty craft doubled up and sank so quickly
that her crew barely had time to lower
their small boats.
Rain of Shells Drop on Vessels
The first shot was followed by rain
of shells that dropped on and all about
the tug and her barges. A lucky shot
next sank the last barge Meanwhile
hits on the tug had set her afire bur
she stood by her barges to the finish.
The third barge in line, the smallest OF
all, proved a hard mark and the Ger
man gunners occupied half an hour IN
disposing of her.
Bv this time the firing had alarmed
the whole cape and cries for assistance
were sent broadcast. No American
warships appeared to be in the vicinity
and the exhibition of German gunnery
went on methodically. Two hydro
airplanes rose from the station at
Chatham and flying low, darted toward
the enemy as though to attack. 1t
could not be seen that they dropped
any bombs but the Germans evidently
anticipated an attack from the air for
they stopped firing and elevated their
guns against the hydro airplanes
They did not fire, however, and a mo-
ment later submerged.
Submarine Renews Attack
The planes circled about where the
enemy was last seem and then turned
their noses toward their station
Scarcely had they reached shore wher
the L boat reappeared and resumed
her attack on the tug and the one ligh
barge remaining afolat. Both the tus
l. In,
were held where they were by tn,
sunken barges, one of which with
load of stone, made an effective an
Chor.
When the firing began the crews los
no time in abandoning the tow. Eacl
of the four barges had one small boa
intended to carry only five persons an,
all the craft were greatly overloaded
In addition the occupants were ex
posed to constant danger from shel
fire. Several merchant craft were il
the vicinity and regardless of the men
ace to themselves went to the rescu
of the crews and towed the small boat
TO shore. The men of the Perth Am
boy who stood by their ship until
was ablaze from bow to stern, wer
taken off by lifeboats from the coas
guard station.
Driven OFF BY Hydro airplanes
The U boat was still trying to fin
vulnerable spots in the Perth Ambo
and the remaining barge when tn
hydro -airplanes again approached. A
sight of the planes the submarin
again submerged and did not reappea
The three women and five childre
did not suffer physical harm thoug
one of the women, who had been max
ing her first trip at sea, tainted afte
she had been placed in a small boa
Among the children was an 11-yeaI
old boy who at the first sign of bal
(Continued on page TWo)