Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1918-01-24

during the battle"
This is precisely it should be. bluejackets and
merchant seamen standing together, fighting the
enemy intrepid American crew, and the
Stars and Stripes hoisted at the first shot by order
of the skipper. Chief Gunner Clark had the honor
to report to the navy department:
"As the submarine displayed flag and was
coming nearer, fired shot. The submarine.
which then about 1000 yards away replied
Immediately with what seemed to me, account
of the range, sixinch gun. Her first shot fell
amidships about 100 yards short We changed
course due west increasing speed. The sub
marine followed u.s. keeping up fire. The fight
lasted from o'clock until about Z: 80 p. We
fired % shots. The submarine fired over 80, in
Guiding some shrapnel toward the end, which ex-
ploded astern Of our ship too high to do any dam
age.
"Our last two shells to have hit the sub
marine in the forward part. A few seconds later
her bow jumped up, and she went down, stern
upward at an angle of about 40 degrees The sub
marine did not come again. and believe it was
sunk then and there No damage done to
ship, and there were no casualties"
The steamer was still within effective range of
the big guns of the submarine, which could have
had no other reason than a sudden attack of
illness for vanishing in this abrupt manner. 1t
seems fairly conclusive that shell blew her part
ly out of water, and then she went lunging and
laundering into the depths The did
stop to search for traces of the disaster. but
sbly continued along on her course Tankers
filled with millions of gallons of gasoline do not
linger in the
The American passenger liners, maintaining
their service almost regularly in time of
peace, would naturally run the gantlet much often
er than the same number of cargo boats. They
sail on an express schedule and spend little time
in port. 1t is secret that they fast and well
armed, able to whip submarine in fight with
guns. The deadly torpedo is another matter but
speed has so far been saving factor. 1t is what
the gunners board call 1.-The sporty life,'
can it be recommended to people with nervous sys-
TENS as restful vocation For example, one of
these liners, during the first six months of war,
made only one perfectly tame and routine voyage.
During all other trips across there fights
with submarines escapes from torpedoes.
Extracts from the navy departments reports of
these steamers may be chosen almost at random
as interesting reading with thrill in it. These
are fair samples of what it means to make the
Atlantic voyage which is longer a common
place. soothing ocean ferry
1.-The lookout in rhe lower crows nest
swain of the naval guard, picked up oil slick
ahead, which veered off to port at right angles to
the ships course. Following the slick which was
about the width of a Ship he suddenly the
periscope of submarine appear at the end of it,
about foot out of the water. He instantly
sung out Periscope,' and the next moment Tor
pedo.' for the submarine had been exposed scarcely
more than second when she fired torpedo. The
enemy was then about 800 yards from the ship
and threefourths point forward of the BEAM
1.-THE torpedo running straight, but appar-
emily having trouble in maintaining its depth for
when about 200 yards off streak then at
a depth of about five feet 1t dived and passed
under the ship about 80 feet from the stern Soon
after heading away from the submarine we picked
up abandoned nfeboat two points off the star
board bow. The submarine had apparently been
lying near the life boat. and seeing approach
had headed of to assume position for attack on
port side, probably expecting us to pick up the
nfeboat and thus miss seeing him. Fortunately.
however, the oil slick was sighted first
The old hands among the gunners paid no at
tention to the torpedo which was coming right
for them. but made every effort to get the guns
the target, which the submarines periscope-"
What might be called close shave befell anoth-
er steamer on the return voyage
There were several other ships in the vicinity,
runs the report, Including two tankers and de-
stroyer and two three tramps- Suddenly a peri
scope was sighted quarter OF a mile away, show
ing ND plainly in the streak OF moonlight the
water. The submarine seemed to be just coming
up and had probably mis1udged the speed of the
steamer. having seen her some time earlier. Be
fore torpedo could be fired the guns manned.
the steamer was right on top of the submarine
which submerged The chief officer threw the
helm hard over and went straight for him. hoping