The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1918-07-13
uon-Hearted British Crews Give
Good Account Of Themselves
In Sea Warfare.
MANY DEEDS OF HERO|sM
Led by Clever Shippers, Sailors Bat
tie Against Almost Hopeless Odds,
Winning Victory Frequently by
Scsntiest Of Margins.

London.-Sometlmes II Is illumlnat-
Ing to look deeper into shipping re-
ports than the statement, for instance,
that 'in three weeks six, four and
eleven British ships Of more than 1,6OO
tons have been sunk" Doing so. one
finds that In one northumberland
90 mid-April--H 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
eargoes In recent days some typical
tales may be told.
A tramp proceeding at leisurely
six knots, entered the danger zone.
All precautions were taken. extra
iookouts were posted and the guns
crew-for she was defensively armed
were standing round their piece
The day had just dawned 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. u German subma-
rine was sighted.
As she was seen the Uboat opened
nre and shells dropped all round the
steamship. which shifted her helm and
put the U-boat dead astern, firing at
her all the sime. The steamships
gun crew were very cool and planted
their shells all round the submarine
and the U-boat did not like II bit.
Then the steamship put up smoke
screen and the U-boat dived in a
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 was blowing the
wrong way; so the steamship let fly
ut her second antagonist, who replied
with vigor, shrnpnel sprinkling the
tramp's decks. For nalf an hour the
fight went on. Then one of the steam
ships shells fell close to the U-boat,
which Owed and vanished under the
water just as a patrol boat appeared
on the scene and lOosed Off a couple
Of devastating rounds. 1t was a fine
performance to beat off two pirate
ships in such short space Of time,
and master and guns crew received
commentator from my lords of the
admiralty.
In another case 1t was duel both
Of gunnery and seamanship. Proceed
Ing steadfastly on her course, Brit
tsh steamship heard gunfire In 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, a U.boat appeared
q point or two on the starboard bow
to the northward. Instantly oil
hands were ordered to their stations.
Helm was put full over, and the U-boat
brought astern, fire being opened on
the enemy, while firebox was light
ed. 1t was difficult to distinguish the
enemy-a large boat, apparently
uOunttnB tWO kuuS "uhVu-
vered backward and forward across
the, steamships course in an endeavor
to bring both her guns into action at
the same time.
Skipper Gets Fritz In Tangle.
But the British skipper was better
seaman than the German, and he skill
fully thwarted the enemy's scheme,
and got Fritz in no end of a tangle.
Now and again the U-boat scored a
hit. The steamships wireless aerials
holed, the exhaust steampipe was per-
forated and the starboard lifebOat
and dinghy damaged. But that did
not bother the steamship or her crew
The latter were grinning at the gun
ners, who were having an exasperat
ing time of 1t. Just imagine crew
of expert gunners with fine gun, ant
burning desire to strafe subma
rine, finding that their gun platform
has collapsed, and that with sub
as target they have to fire more o.
less by guesswork.
But rs the navy men always dc
these gunners buckled to. The gu
kicked abominably, and the sighte
had his eyes blackened and his fac
cut, but despite this the shooting wa
too close and too hot for the U-boa
which kept at a respectful distance
The bosn and Sparks" the wireless
man, took the risk. Of the U-boat
Gre and repaired the aerials, and tn
steamer plugged ahead for harbo
But Il was some hours later before III
pirate drew of, bafiled by the indon
stable pluck of the British sailormeI
Crew Below Decks Also Heroes.
And just word here for the "blac
squad" Both watches Of engineer
and stokers were below throughot
che action, and though shell cam
through the bunkers and filed III
stokehold with coal and ashes, the
~carried on" with amazing pluck.
Here IL another nne bit Of work. /.
big ship In ballast, standing out q
the water like a cathedral. was MAJ