Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1918-05-16
||b0ATSWA|N IS CITED.
FORGREAT HERO|sM|
HOW JOHN MACKENZIE SAVED
the REMLIk WHEN A DEPTH
CHARGE BROKE LOOSE.
Ne CAPTURED THE BIG BOMB

ne CAPTURED THE BIG BOMB
Delivery Of Locomotives Ordered by
0evernment Starts In July Ger.
4 many Limits Spending Money Of
American Prisoners and lnterned
Civilians.
eSTsm Committee on Public Information,
Washington.-Many members Of the
United States army aud navy are be>
4ng commended for bravery in action
or In emergencies. A typical case is
eaat OF John Mackenzie, chief boat
sWain's mate, of the naval reserve
force, described in a navy department
statement.
The case is unique in that it has to
do with one Of the latest engines of
war. Az is well known, United States
sdsstroyers and other submarine fight
ess carry depth charges containing a
large amount of high explosives which
are dropped in the path of enemy sub
marines and explode under water.
These have proved effective weapons
IN the destruction of U-boats, and they
are safe enough when the safety pins
are affixed; but when they get beyond
control and the safety pin comes out
they are source of serious danger to
he vessels carrying them. 1t will be
recalled that the men on the q. S. S.
anley who lost their lives in the col
Ion Of that destroyer with British
.veesel were killed by the explosion of
enc Of these bombs.
In heavy gale on the morning of
December II. 1917, depth charge on
the Remlik broke loose from its posi-
.tioa on the stern. The box went over
board, but the charge was hurled in
the opposite direction and went bounc-
Ing about the deck. As it weighs hun.
dreds Of pounds 1t was impossible for
e1yone to lift the bomb and carry it
70 safety. It was even dangerous for
anyone to 60 to that part of the ship,
- the seas were washing over the
stern. As the officers and crew
watched the bomb some one shouted:
The pins come OUT" Realizing the
danger. Mackenzie, exclaiming, watch
me; I'll get It," dashed down the deck
tand hung himself upon the charging
cylinder. Three times he almost had
iAiS arms about the bomb, but each
time it tore from him, ONCE almost
crushing him. The fourth time he got
= nrm grip on 1t and heaved it up
right on one fiat end. Then he sat on
It and held 1t down. The charge might
have broken loose again and exploded
at any moment, blowing Mackenzie to
bits, but he held on firmly until lines
could be run to him and man and
depth bomb safely lashed. Soon after
ward the ship was headed up into the
60 and the charge carried to place
g safety.
The commanding officer of the Rem
uk, In his report recommending that
the medal Of honor be conferred or
Mackenzie. says:
Mackenzie, in acting as he did, ex-
posed his life and prevented serious
accident to the ship and probable loss
OF the ship and entire crew. Had this
depth charge exploded on the quarter
deck with the sea and wind that ex-
listed at the time there is no doubt that
the ship would have been lost"
Money intended for interned civil.
ians and prisoners of war in Germany
should be RENTED through the bureau
OF prisoners relief, American Red
Cross, Washington, d. G. Remittances
20 made will probably not be delivered
to addresses by the German govern
ment in cash, but in the form of credit
On prison exchanges.
According to the Spanish ambassa-
dor at Berlin, the war department
states that there are no restrictions
IN regard to the remittance of money
for civilian and military prisoners.
Such money is placed to prisoners
credit, and may be spent under the
following regulations:
military prisoners. Sixty marks
weekly may be spent by officers and
others of similar rank; SO marks
weekly by nOn-cOmmissioned officers
and men.
"Civilian prisoners. Sixty marks
weekly for men of better social posi-
don; SO marks weekly for Others"
4 study is being made of the for
mulae and manufacturing processes of
medicines requiring glycerin, and
plans for the curtailment of the guam
tity now used in case it becomes nec-
essary will be submitted to the general
medical board Of the Council of Ma.
uonal Defense.
II Is announced in the Bohemian
press that experiments made with
paper cloth" have proved so success
Alsthat Hungarian state railways arS
- furnish their employees with sum.
neF clothing of this fabric.
In its regulations governing the
Dfiee Of wool the war industries
heard allows dealers to make charge
q three per cent of the selling price
Il the wool 10 not graded, and 3h per
cent II graded. This commission is to
esver oil storage, carriage and insur-
aaes.
~ additional credit Of $3,25OOOO
AAs been extended to Belgium by the
Unlted States, making q total of $1O7,-