Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1918-01-18

CT unuerSea Meet must be wiped out by
now. The navys records less fanciful, strictly
adhering to the motto of the man from Missouri
Here is the account of an action fought by q
cargo steamer which leaves no room for doubt
tnat one very busy U-boat suddenly removed
from the active list of the imperial German navy
II IS advisable to omit the of the chief boat
SWANS mate who commanded the gun crews He
was promoted to warrant rank as a reward for
Inc feat and is now stationed ashore, but he may
go TO sea again in charge of another lot Of gun
ners, and If he should be taken prisoner the enemy
would not love him for what he did to missing
submarine. In his official report he states:
weather hazy. Saw submarine firing on a
lopsail schooner. which shortly after blew up.
changed course to bring the submarine on our
starDoard beam about 5000 yards distant and lost
sgnt OF her In haze. Continued on this course for
TWO hours and then resumed our original course
AT 100 p. M. the submarine appeared out of the
1aze at 2,0OO yards our starboard BEAM She
Immediately opened fire. We changed course to
br1ng her three points on the starboard quarter
and returned the fire.
"The engagement lasted So minutes. during
which time the submarine fired about 40 shots.
scoring one hit under our port counter foot from
the water, and causing a leak We fred 27 shots
Inc tWenty-slxth shot was seen te hit her Just
forward OF the forward gun, and cloud of fame
ana dark gray smoke burst from the matches The
crew OF the submarine left the gun and ran aft
Almost instantly the submarine sank bow first
the stern lifting high out of the water so that the
propellers could be seen revolving The steamer
was leaking and temporary repairs were made by
the crew."
When the ship reached her foreign port of des-
tination and reported the victory an official in
quiry was ordered by the French government
naval lieutenant conducted it with great care and
confirmed the verdict of the American gunners
The steamer fought with the American flag flying
half an hour. The distance increased about 100
meters for each shot. The twenty sixth shot ex-
ploded, producing thick black smoke, which was
visible to all shipboard. Such an explosion
must have been produced in the submarine ITSELF
He said, in summing up the evidence
"The result of the inquiry is that the fight has
been very well conducted and that the men have
shown a very fine spirit, doing honor to the Amer
lean navy. The conclusion may be drawn that the
submarine was hit and probably sunk"
This was frst-cass shooting, the submarine
steadily drawing away until when struck she was
5000 yards, and more, or three land miles from
the steamer Binoculars and telescope sights en-
abled the gunners to distinguish her with clear
ness and to note the effects of the shell which
ended her wretched career. 1t was her command
er's intention to move beyond range and continue
the action on the chance that he had the bigger
guns but he miscalculated. and paid the price.
1t seemed cruel slant of fortune that this
American steamer, which so brilliantly bagged
submarine should have accidentally burned at sea
on her next voyage. There was no time to stretch
hose or muster the crew. Ablaze in an instant,
she was one vast furnace while the men raced for
the boats with death at their heels. All hands got
away, including the navy gunners. and their cruise
in open boats was made without severe suffering
1t was all in the days work.
Very similar to this successful encounter was
the adventure of the steamer Silver She'll In this
instance also the French ministry of marine added
its opinion that the submarine had probably been
hit and sunk. The chief gunner won promotion
shortly after this statement was issued by Secre-
tary Daniels:
civilian T. Clark of New York, chief turret cap
tain and commander of the naval gun crew of the
Silver Shell, is deserving OF promotion, which we
are now considering. All the other members of the
crew. as we'll and what they have done, deserve
great credit and distinction. The chief turret cap
tain is a very capable man. He is an enlisted man
who has seen nearly IL years of service in the
navy and has won successive promotions by proven
capacity For his work he deserves the very best
that can be done for him."
Here was man fit and ready for MS JoD, ana
no knew how to put his own spirit and experience
into the team play of his gunners. An American
naval officer of high rank detailed on special duty
at a French post conducted an inquiry and FOUND
pleasy,re in writing to Washington that 'the mas
FER of the Silver Shell particularly enthusiastic
over the splendid work of the turret captain and
the entire naval gun crew. he also states that his