The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-07-05

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, Il U-boat appeared
point or two on the starbOard bow
| to the northWard. Instantly all
hands were ordered to their stations.
Helm was put full over, and the U-boat
brought astern, fire being opened on
the enemy, while a tirebOx was light
ed 1t was difficult to distinguish the
enemy-a large boat, apparently
mounting two gunS-which maneu-
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 enemys scheme,
and got Fritz in no end of a tangle.
Now and again the U-bOat scored a
hit. The steamships wireless aerials
were carried away, her mainmast was
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 it, Just imagine a crew
Of expert gunners with a fine gun, and
q burning desire to strafe a subma-
rinc finding that their gun platform
has collapsed, and that with a sub"
as target they have to fire more or
le.s by guessWork.
But rs the navy men always do
these gunners buckled to. The gun
Kicked abominably, and the sighter
had his eyes blackened and his face
cut, but despite this the shooting was
too close and too hot for the U-boat,
which kept at a respectful distance.
The bos'n and Sparks" the wireless
mau, took the risk of the U-boats
fire and repaired the aerials, and the
steamer plugged ahead for harbor
But it was some hours later before the
pirate drew off, baftled by the indom-
table pluck of the British sallormen.
Crew Below Decks Also Heroes.
And lust word here for the "black
squad" Both watches Of engineers
and Stoiers were below throughout
the action, and though a shell came
through the bunkers and filled the
stokehOld with coal and ashes they
carried on" with amazing pluck.
Here is another fine bit of work. A
big ship in ballast. standing out of
the water like a cathedral, was nav
igating to a certain port to pick up an
urgent cargo when the skipper, who
had been on the bridge for many
hours, saw the track of torpedo ap-
preaching his ship.
lizard a-port," he called to the quar-
termaSter at the wheel, and "Full
astern" was rung down to the engine
room, where Bob, "the third" was on
duty by himself. The ship spun
around on her heel, as it were, and
the torpedo passed her by. Then the
engine room bell changed for full
ahead, and down the voice-pipe into
Bob's ear came the insistent call for
speed and more speed.
BY this time the chief engineer and
his staff were on the foot-plate, and
the ship, which ordinarily did eleven
knots at her top gait, began to cut up
the water at rate which would have
astOnlshed her builders. From the
wireless the o call was sent out
and the gunner got busy, but the
U-boat was out Of range and fire was
held until the pirate got closer, when