The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1918-01-17
A Bluff In
The Aegean Sea
BY F. A. mitchell

NO-~~~~N-~~ON -
ton tramp steamer called the Ajax.
1 left Smyrna in August, 1915, with
cargo of rugs and other Asiatic
goods for the port Of New York. l
was obliged to steam through the
Greek archipelago, which 1 knew at
forded fine nesting for corsairs. i did
not fear Greeks, but 1 dreaded Asiatics
from the opposite eastern coast. Ii L
could get through to the open Mediter-
ranean sea l would feel reasonable
expectation of getting my cargo to
America and large profit.
One day while passing between two
Greek islands 1 was called from the
noon meal by the lookout, who report
ed a small craft resembling tug put
ting out from cove and steering
course with the evident intention to
head us off. Through my glass l saw
that she carried the German flag.
Now, did not believe that any Ger
man craft would be sailing in those
waters. which were occupied by the
allied fleets, especially the British. If
this one were really German l was, OF
the opinion that she was tender for
submarine. However, l could only
wait and learn. l kept on my course,
watching in every direction for peri
scope, till the tug-for such she proved
to ,be-was close on to my bows.
Through my glass l could see on her
deck a number of men In sailor cos
tune who might be in the German
service; but, judging from their
swarthy compilations, they were Ash
atics.
One man who appeared to be com
mander wore the uniform of a Ger
man naval officer, but l believed he
had obtained it without having a COM
mission. He was whittier than his men
and might have been European. One
thing l noticed neutrality-suspicious. was
no appearance of cannon. Whatever
armament there was doubtless consist
ed of such weapons as could be WELD
ed by individuals. However, while |
looked a port was opened and the nose
Of little barker appeared. 1t was as
terrifying as bull pup. l did not be-
lieve it could sink us, though it might
put our machinery out of commission.
With its appearance the comm n
of the tug called through a mef .elSe
something in German whichPq IF my
men who understood the y yhguage
thought to be a demand for ssurren-
der. A submarine was readyt w
us out of water. We We're gil Zen
minutes to take to the boats. TT
Never was there a more palpable
case of bluff. There was no subma-
rine, nothing which could be relied on
to sink us. We were In danger OF be-
ing boarded and overpowered by Asiat-
ic pirates playing the submarine act
Though l was not deceived, l confess
it looked to me that the only chance
for our lives was to take to the boats
and leave our cargo to the pirates.
There We're few small arms aboard
but not enough Of them or men to use
them to put up an adequate defense.
But we had means Of defense that
I had often thought of using in case
of being attacked by the small enemies
that infest certain Asiatic coasts. l
determined to try it now. / had plen-
ty of hose, and / ordered it attached
to the steam cocks of the boiler. There
were two hose which could be used
separately. asked for more time
from the pirate and was told that not
a minute would be granted. So / or
dered the men to pretend to begin
the work of lowering the boats, and
they made great ado with the ropes,
but accomplished nothing. During the
few minutes they were thus engaged
we were attaching the hose to the
boiler and running the MOBILES on deck.
where they were hidden under the
gmwale. When all was ready | or
dered the men away from the boats
that if he wanted our ship to come
and take it or If he intended to blow
us up to do so.
This was evidently not in his calcu-
lations. There was a conference among
them; then we could see arms brought
on deck. 1t was evident that they in
tended TO board us. Meanwhile they
ran up against us and were about to
lash to us when | took hose and
pointing it down at them, sent
stream of scalding water among them,
which caused them to desist and get
out of range as soon as possible.
A number of them had been scalded
just enough to make them furious
with pain, and, after taking time to
consider, they launched a rowbOat car
ried Oh their deck and manned it, and
while the tug came under our bows
the rowbOat approached our stern.
There was some protection for them
both fore and aft, but as soon as a
man appeared at either point he re-
teived a dose Of steam that sent him
bowling back, and some of them were
knocked into the brine,
This plan having failed. both board
ing parties retreated and, joining forces
on the tug, began to pepper us with
their little barker. | sent men below
to plug holes that might be made I'M
der water; but, fearing damage to our
boiler which would put us at their
mercy. determined to assume the Of
fensive. Pointing the vessel straight
ut the tug before she could get out Of
the way, ran alongside of her and
drove every man below with scalding
water,
1t was now evident that / had mas
tered them, and, putting on all steam,