New Britain herald., 1918-02-09

form the captain Of the number Of
men absent from every watch with
out leave, in order that their pay may
be checked. On sailing from New
York the vessel was short about
twelve Or fifteen men Of the compile
ment, it being impossible to get men
before sailing. The captain of the
ship stated to me that this happened
on every voyage, and in many cases
he sailed with as many as twenty or
twenty-five vacancies in the ships
complement. 1t is a known fact that
speed Is the greatest factor of safety
to the merchant vessel passing
through the war zone, and the inn
paired efficiency in the engine room
force results in reduced speed.
The class of personnel in the fore
castle that composed the deck force
was most illiterate, and the majority
OF them foreigners, although a great
many or them had affidavits. etc. to
the effect that they were citizens of
the United States. One man we called
on the bridge and questioned stated
that he secured his affidavit from a
'Dutchman' who kept a boarding
house with whom he was living. This
man spoke very poor English; in
fact, it was very hard to understand
Rim at all at times. Apparently he
was Z Greek.
1.-The second factor of safety in the
war zone is efficient lookouts These
cannot be had from the crew of a
vessel, as was clearly demonstrated
to me. On one occasion, when it was
necessary to remove the passengers
from this vessel after she had struck
a mine, the passengers were being
lowered and removed to another YES
sci, one of the crew of a boat trans
ferr1ng passengers on coming along
side the relief ship jumped out Of
the boat and went aboard the relief
vessel, refusing to return to his ship
in order to assist in bringing off the
remaining passengers. This man was
declared a deserter. However, the
seaman's union took the case up with
the steamship company, and the de-
cision that the man was a deserter
was overru1ed. The officers of this
vessel stated that almost an entire
new crew took the vessel to sea on
every voyage, and that there never
was opportunity to instruct any of
Of them properly before sailing, as
they reported on board at the last
minute before sailing, and then many
of them under the influence Of liquor,
and some very drunk"
Now, gentlemen Of the commit
tee, l have just a few more cases.
These are specific instances of faulty
conduct Of personnel, United States,
and allied merchant vessels, illustrate
ing the necessity for all tonnage trad
ing through submarine areas being
manned and operated by the navy
Crew Abandons Navajo.
steamship Navajo, Aug. /, 1917,
500 miles west Of Ireland. shellcd by
submarine. Ship caught fire. Five
minutes after alarm of fire crew aban-
doned ship. No effort made 20 ont
out flames. Boats lowered without
stopping engines. Captain left ship
Third engineer took wheel and kept
ship into wind. Later crew returned
on board. Flames then beyond con-
troll, SO Captain alleged. Reabandoned
her. She was anOat next morning.
'Stean.ship Wico, AUS. 6, 1917.
near Isle of Gurnsey. ship conveyed
by British destroyer. Submarine
sighted 500 yards distant. One shot
fired Immediately on sighting and
submarine submerged. Captain inn
mediately on sighting submarine gave
order to abandon ship. Engines
stopped as soon as alarm was sound
ed and department abandoned. Armed
guard prevented ship being aban-
doned, and at point Of pistol drove
the engineer force, including chief,
below. Engines were started and ship
resumed her voyage uninjured. Her
escape undoubtedly due to presence
of British destroyer. Merchant COM
plement did everything possible to
lose her. This Captain did not zig
gag, did not properly darken ship, did
not maintain maximum speed, when
! convoy left him; allowed unidentified
| vessel to close him.
steamship Campania, Aug. 6. 1917,
| after four-hour engagement Captain
| stopped, turned broadside to subma-
| rine, and surrendered, abandoning YES
sci. He stated he was afraid there
| might be casualties. Submarine ap-
| preached ship on surface within 500
yards before she was abandoned.
| Ship sunk by Germans going aboard
and placing bombs in various places.
''Steamship Finland, Oct. 27, 1917.
| Torpedoed in convoy. Did not see tor
| pedo or periscope. Did not see tor
| pedo. Greatest confusion of merchant
| complement. Started to abandon ship
! imm ediately. Only loss of life caused
; by boat falling While lowering, spill
inG people into water. When manifest
ship would float, people returned
aboard, and ship made her way to
! port under own steam.
''Steamship Luckenbach, Oct. H.
1917, in convoy. Sighted submarine
three miles ahead of ship at 5:15 p.
M; thought it buoy. At 5:55 sight
ed periscope distant 200 yards ahead.
| Captain avoided attack and proceed
! ed at maximum speed. Got ahead Of
convoy; at dark slowed from 10 to !
knots. Did not zigzag. Continued to
show screened wake light. At s y,
m ship torpedoed. Submarine evil