Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-12-22
ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN BRITISH DfCOi SHIP
 GfRMANY'S 5 U-BOATS
Many Submarine Commanders Found Looking Hulls Anything But an Easy Mark

Looking Hulis Anything But an Easy Mark.
 London, Nov. @0.-(Correspondence o fthe Associated Press. )-one of the most exciting chapters of the war
 against German U-boats is a series of accounts of notable engagements be- tween British decoy ships and the submarines. made public by the Brit ish admiralty. While the whole story of the part played by these decoy ves- sels, mystery ships or "Q' craft has not been revealed. it is evident that several of them were used to
 lure the Hun undersea craft to thel destruction.
 Some incidents in this campaign already have been made known, deal
 ing chiefly with a few of the eX- plolts of Commander Gordon Camp bell as master of the decoy vessels; but others in which he and other cap tains participated now are available
 That at least smll fleet wss used in the work is evident from the fact that Campbell at different times ap- pears as the master of the Earn borough, the Pargust, the Duraven and the Q-5.
 The prize, another decoy ship, was
 commanded by Lieutenat William E Sanders and the stock force by Lieu tenant Harold Auten
 Stories of the encounters between these ships an dthe U-boats are filled with deeds of heroism and instances in which the discipline of the Brit IS navy was displayed under the trying circumstances. For many months the decoy ships reavily arm ed but with their guns hidden behind False bulWarks steamed zig-zag paths in the seas which were the hunting grounds of the submarine.
 In their character of lazy collers 'of slow cargo craft they presented to the submarine commander a inviting object of attack but once he was well within range of the British guns, the false superstructure hiding the guns fell away and the helpless collier be-
 came suddenly transformed into a fighting craft, bent on destruction. It was dangerous work requiring the high order of courage for the sub marine must be lured near before the guns could safely begin their work. Meantime the Hun frequently had sent his torpedo home and the decoy ship was disabled, sometimes on fire and part of her crew wounded. In that condition the battle was fought and often the submarine destroyed. 'panic parties was one of the ruses practiced by the decoy ships commander to coax the submarine alongside. When the mystery ship was torpedoed these panic parties took to the boats, apparently aband- onlng their vessel but always leav- ing on board another crew to man the guns and finishing the submar- inc if it came ear enough.
 The first encounter mentioned by the Admiralty took place in March, 1915, when the FarhDoroush, dis gulsed as collier was attacqdeb } guised as collier, was attacked by
 submarine. The panic eaty took to the boats and when the submarine closed in 10 about 500 yards the Farnborough opened fire
 on her. The U-bOat submerged and the Farnborough passed over her, dropping depth bombs. The subma- rlne reappared standing almost on end. Five rounds were fired into her at nearly point blank range ad she wtnt to the bottom of the sea.
 Prior to that action the Farm borough had cruised throughout the
 entire winter without being attack ed
 Within a month the Farnboroueh h coaNcd another submarine near enough to sink her by gunfire. Com-
 mander Campbell later was transfer
 rcd to the command of the O. and i'll the following February, 1916, his vessel was torpedoed by a submarine which eventually approached so
 near that shot from the Farm borough beheaded the U-boat captain
 as he climbed out of the tower. the submarine VIA sunk with her con
 ming tower opc1 and her crew pour ing out. Destroyers lowed the O. , Tn and beached her. For this exploit th2 Victoria Cross was awarded to Campbell
 The decoy ship Pargust with Camp Dell Tn command was torpedoed in June. 1917, while disguised as Brit
 lsh merchant vessel. The submarine came within fifty yards of the Par gust which then opened fire on her with all guns. The submarine crew
 poured out of the coming tower and
 help up their hands in token of sur
 render but the U-boat steamed away
 trying to escape in the mist. The
 Fargust again o.ened fire on her.
 and sunk her with one man clinging
 to her bow as she wet down. The
 decoy vessel was lowed back to port
 ny American destroyers Two Viyto-
 Tia Crosses were awarded for this
 successful actinn