New-York tribune., 1918-08-04
Captain and Crew of Brit
ish Schooner Dornfon-
tein Land in Maine
Submarine Operating
In Atlantic 6 Months
German Commander Said
He Expected to Remain
Until October

successful foray of German subma-
rlne in Canadian waters was reported
here to-day. Captain Charles E. Dag
well, OF the British lumber schooner
Dornfontein, and his crew of eight men
landed in their small boat on Grand
Manan Island, in the Bav of Fundy, at
$3.50 a. m. to-day. and reported that
their vessel had been held up, looted
and set on fire by U-boat twenty-five
miles southwest of Briar Island at 1885
O'Clock yesterday morning.
The submarine apparently was watch
ing for bigger game. She was in
position commanding shipping from, the
Canadian ports OF Yarmouth, n. S.. and
ST John, n. B., and was only com
paratlvely short distance outside Amer
lean territorial waters.
The news of the raid was quickly
reported TO the Navy Department at
Washington by Lieutenant T. P. Harri
son, commanding the Machias Naval
District, and the patrol fleet of this
easternmost tip of the United States
became Immediately active. During
.he afternoon an American patrol boat
took Captain Dagwell and his men
from Grand Manan to St. John. n. 3.
Only scant details Of the attack on the
schooner were permitted 10 sift
through the American and British cen
sorships
C-Boat Here Six Months
According to Captain Dagwell. the
commander of the U-boat told him ne
mad been on this coast SIX months and
would be here until October. The sub
Tnersi bic looked, to Captain Dagwell,
70 be 275 feet in length. She carried
two guns and had crew of seventy
five men.
Most Of the crew crowded upon the
submersible's deck, Captain Dagwell
SAID, to witness the robbng of his
ships stores. The Dornfontein was
stocked with provisions for voyage
to South African ports, and the prize
was much TO the liking of the Germans I.
who checred as boacload after boatload
Of goods was transferred TO the raider.
Not only did the Germans take pro-
visions, but they helped themselves TO
the clothing which the British sailors
were forced to leave behind in ODE
dlence TO the curt order Of the com
mander Of the submersible to get into
their boats without delay. They were
allowed to take with them only the
clothes they stood in.
The U-boat wasted neither torpedo
nor bomb on the schooner. Her only
shot was the customary one fred
across the ships bow 20 bring her
10. The submarine came to the surface
short distance from the schooner
having apparently watched her ap-
proach through sae periscope She
halted the vessel with a warning shot
sent small boat aboard, and after
ordering Captain Dagwell and his men
to get into their large sailing dory,
proceeded to systematically loot the
helpless craft.
Whether the German decided It
would be hopeless to try TO sink the
schooner by bombs, owing TO the buov-
ant nature Of her cargo Of lumber. or
whether he was economizing on his
ammunition is not known. But tho
torch was resorted to as the means Of
destruction. Fires were started on
various parts of the vessel. and today.
twenty four hours after the Dornfon-
teln was attacked, a smudge Of smoke
from her hulk was visible from Grand
Manan Island, indicating that she was
SJllI GUOaL.
The Dornfontein was on her maiden
voyage She was Of LOGO tons dead
weight and was launched six weeks ago
az st. John, N. B.. the first ship TO be
sent down the ways at the plant Of the
Marine Construction Company.
U-Boae Fires One Shot
The schooner was just retting into
the open sea, twenty-five miles of
Briar Island, the westernmost point of
Nova Scotia. when the submarine rose
from the waters and fred one shot
across her bow.
The schooner quickly came too and
few minutes later was boarded by a
party of Germans, who left the sub
marine IN a small boat.
appeared TO be about $50 feet in length
and carried two guns. Some shipping
men expressed the opinion that L was
the same C-boat that ventured close 10
the dangerous shoals off Cape Cod,
July y, and attacked tug and barges
This theory was based on the belief
that no navigating officer would risk
his ship near the Lodges at the mouth
OF the Bay Of Fundy unless he knew
the waters very well
This IS linked up with the boast OF
the second officer Of the U-boat which
sank a Gloucester fisherman of the
Maine coast a few days after the ex-
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES .lAHlNllilNiltI!lllIlA'a