The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-14
never SURRENDER
Steamer Fights u
Boat Four Hours.
Arrival of q. S. Destroyer Puts
Submarine to ROut.

Washington, Jan. IA detailed
account of four hour battle in which
German submarine attacked the
American steamer J. L. Luckenbach
on October but failed to cripple her
entirely, is related in report issued
by the Creel bureau here
The captain of the Luckenbach
gamely wirelessed a destroyer-two
hours distant that he would never
surrender. AS a result he brought his
ship safely into port after the strug-
gle.
"At 1880 a. m. the after-lookout on
the Luckenbach reported a steamer
abeam, said the account.
The commander of the armed
guard sighted her himself. Both guns
were trained on the steamer. The
armed guard then went aloft to obtain
up, the supposed steamer turned out
to be a. submarine and opened fire.
The time was then about 1880.
The Luckenbaeh Immediately INN" Thy
first two or three shots fired by the
submarine fell about two thousand
yards short. She was firing at long
range. The 'Luckenbach's shots also
fell short. Then the submarine ap-
peared to be closing in, the captain
enbach toward her, which he did. Dis
tress signals were sent out by wire
less.
Shell Hits Steamer.
THE submarine closed in at about
two thousand yards. Early in the bat
tie one shot from the submarine land
ed on the deck forward on the port
side and exploded in the gun crews
quarters. starting a fire which partial
ly destroyed the quarters and burned
the effects of the gun crews. The
same shot burst the fire main. The
fire main was blocked off and the
water finally got to the fire. Steam
also was turned on the flames.
shortly after the first shot landed
another shot struck the quartermas-
ter'S room, without doing much dam
age.
"a shot landed near the stern and
exploded, putting the after gun out
of commission.
AT least 225 rounds were fired by
the submarine out of which there
were only nine clean hits the COM
mander reported.
Pieces of shell were falling all
around the deck. Two shots landed
on the port side forward, striking the
oilers room and putting a large hole
in the side. One landed on the port
side at the water line, hitting the
fresh water tank and destroying most
of the fresh water supply. Another
landed in the petty officers mess room
and exploded, putting the ash hoist
out of commission and bursting the
steam pipe. also wounding two men,
one mess boy and fireman.
"One shot passed the weather
screen, landing in the cargo. 1t ex-
ploded without starting fire.
Shell Explodes in Engine Room.
"One of the shells exploded in the
Ta
third engineers and disabling the en-
gines. Pieces of the same shell
sprayed the room, cutting wires and
pipe connections. Bell, member of
the gun crew, was carrying ammuni-
ton up ladder when the shell which
landed in the quartermaster's room
exploded. He was blinded for two
hours.
Distress calls sent out were an
swered at $40 o'clock by a United
States destroyer 1t was asked how
quickly it could reach the scene and
replied two hours.
Too late said the captain of the
Luckenbach.
Don't surrender the DESTROYER an
swered. and the commanding officer
of the Luckenbach said: .Neyer!'
The Luckenbach kept firing at the
submarine from 7:4O O'Clock until
after 1880 o'clock, during whichs2O2
rounds of ammunition were showered
on the U-boat- At 1870 the DESTROY
er nred its first shot at the subma-
rine and forced it to submerge.
Great credit is given the ships
crew for the work done in supply
ing ammunition" the commander of
the armed guard reported. He re-
ported also members of the guard
never shirked duty.