The Benson signal., 1918-06-29
Llon-Hearted British Crews Give
Good Account of Themselves
in Sea Warfare.
MANY DEEDS OF HERoIsM
Led by Clever Shippers, Sailors Bat
tie Against Almost Hopeless Odds,
Winning Victory Frequently by
Scantiest of Margins.


ports than the statement, for instance,
that ''in three weeks six, four and
eleven British ships Of more than 1000
tons have been sunk" Doing so, one
finds that in one month-mid- March
to mid-April-64 vessels were at
tackled by U-boats and escaped.
From the logs Of few tramp ships
in the custody of the admiralty which
have come safely to port with their
cargoes in recent days some typical
tales may be told.
A tramp proceeding at leisurely
six knots, entered the danger zone.
All precautions were taken, extra
iookouts were posted and the guns
crew-fOr she was defensively armed
were standing round their "piece."
The day had just dawned and there
was every promise Of fine day. An
other three miles away to port, with
the red of the morning sun glinting
on her gray back, German subma-
rine was sighted.
AS she was seen the U-boat opened
fire and shells dropped all round the
steamship. which shifted her helm and
put the U-boat dead astern, firing at
her all the time. The steamships
gun crew were very cool and planted
their shells all round the submarine;
and the U-boat did not like 1t bit.
Then the steamship put up smoke
screen and the U-boat dived in a
panic, apparently expecting instant
dissolution.
Second U-Boat Appears
She had hardly disappeared when
another U-boat, about 300 feet long,
and mounting guns fore and aft of the
coming tower, broke surface. The
smoke screen was no longer service
able, for the wind was blowing the
wrong way; so the steamship let fly
at her second antagonist, who replied
with vigor, shrapnel sprinkling the
tramp's decks. For half an hour the
fight went ON. Then one of the steam
ships shells fell close to the U-boat,
which dived and vanished under the
water just as patrol boat appeared
on the scene and loOsed Off couple
Of devastating rounds. 1t was fine
performance to beat off two pirate
ships in such short space of time.
and master and guns crew received
commentator from my lords Of the
admiralty.
In another case it was a duel both
Of gunnery and seamanship. Proceed
ing steadfastly on her course, Brit
ish steamship heard gunfire in the
distance, but could see nothing Of the
enemy. The propeller thrust her
ahead.
The white cliffs Of Albion were lift
ing on the horizon when, just as twi-
light was falling, U-boat appeared
q point or two on the starbOard bow
to the northward. Instantly all
hands were ordered to their stations.
Helm was put full over, and the U-boat
brought astern, fire being opened on
the enemy, while firebox was light
ed. 1t was difficult to distinguish the
enemy-a large boat, apparently
mounting two guns-which maneu-
vered backward and forward across
the steamships course in an endeavor
to bring both her guns into action at
the same time.
Skipper Gets Fritz in TangIe.
But the British skipper was better
seaman than the German, and he skill
fully thwarted the enemy's scheme,
and got Fritz in no end Of tangle.
Now and again the U-boat scored
hit. The steamships wireless aerials
were carried away, her mainmast was
holed, the exhaust steampipe was per-
forated and the StarbOard lifebOat
and dinghy damaged. But that did
not bother the steamship or her crew.
The latter were grinning at the gun
ners, who were having an exasperat-
ing time of it. Just imagine crew
of expert gunners with fine gun and
O. burning desire to strafe subma-
rine, finding that their gun platform
has collapsed, and that with a "sub''
as a target they have to fire more or
less by guesswork.
But as the navy men always do,
these gunners buckled to. The gun
kicked abominably, and the sighter
had his eyes blackened and his face
cut, but despite this the shooting was
too close and too hot for the U-boat,
which kept at a respectful distance.
The bos'n and Sparks" the wireless
man, took the risk Of the U-boats
fire and repaired the aerials, and the
steamer plugged ahead for harbor
But it was some hours later before the
pirate drew off, baff1ed by the indom-
liable pluck of the British sailormen.
Crew Below Decks Also Heroes.
And just word here for the "black
SQUAD" Both watches of engineers
and stokers were below throughout
the action, and though a shell came
through the bunkers and filled the
stokehold with coal and ashes, they
carried on" with amazing pluck.
Here is another fine bit of work. A
big ship in ballast, standing out OF
<hM water like a cathedral was nav.