Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1918-07-12
rion.Hearted British Crews Give
Coco Account of Themselves
in Sea Warfare.
MANY DEEDS OF HER0IsM
cd by Clever Shippers, Sailors Bat
lie Against Almost Hopeless Odds,
Winning Victory Frequently by
scanticst of Margins.

Lond0n.- Sometimes it is illuminat-
inc to look deeper into shipping re-
ports than the statement, for instance,
TINT lin three weeks six, four and
eleven British ships of more than 1000
tons have been sunk" Doing so, one
finds ldat in one March
70 miG-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.
\ tramp proceeding at leisurely
six LIolS. entered the danger zone.
All precautions were taken, extra
lookuutS were posted and the guns
creW--tor 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 rcd of the morning sun glinting
on her cray back, German subma-
riuo WAS sighted.
A> she was seen the U-boat opened
fire and shells dropped all round the
steamship, which shifted her helm and
Pu, The U-boat dead astern, firing at
her a. the time. The steamships
gun crew were very cool and planted
their shells all round the submarine;
and 'ac U-boat did not like it a bit.
IA.a the steamship put up a smoke
screen and the U-boat dived in Il
lan.H apparently expecting instant
dissolution.
Second U-Boat Appears.
She had hardly disappeared when
another U-boat, about 800 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 yisor, shrapnel sprinkling the
tramps decks. For half an hour the
hight 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 a 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
commendation from my lords of the
admiralty.
In another case it was a duel both
OF gunnery and seamanship. Proceed
Ing SteadtaStly on her course, a Brit
lSh steamship heard gunfre in the
distance, but could see nothing Of the
enemy, The propeller thrust her
ahead.
HE white cliffs Of Albion were lift
Ihg on the horizon when, just as twi-
Hght was falling, a U-boat appeared
point or two on the starboard bow
10 The northward. Instantly all
hands we're ordered to their stations.
Helm was put full over, and the U-boat
brought astern, fire being opened on
me enemy, while a fireboX was light
ed 1t was difficult to distinguish the
eheny-a large boat apparently
mounting two guns-which maneu-
Nered backward and forward across
le steamships course in an endeavOr
10 brlng both her guns into action at
the same time.
SKIPPER Gets Fritz in Tanqle.
DUt The british skipper was a better
seaman than the German, and he skill
tui.F thWarted the enemy's scheme,
anu sot Fritz in no end of q tangle.
to" ana again the U-boat scored
ant Ihe steamships wireless aerials
we're carried away, her mainmast was
Holed' The exhaust steampipe was per-
'"'eu ana the starbOard lifebOat
'nu dinghy damaged. But that did
~. ooIher the steamship or her crew.
Inc latter were grinning at the gun
TVS S, VINO were having an exasperat-
uihe or it. Just imagine q crew
eApert gunners with fine gun, and
turning desire to strafe a subma-
e' Hildlng that their gun platform
coiiapsed, and that with "sub"
,a Is target they have to fire more or
SS Dy guesswork.
-, Out as the navy men always do,
LIS, Se eunners buckled to. The gun
MY" .vhea abominably, and the sighter
au MS eyes blackened and his face
~ ~ Dur despite this the shooting was
w rup elose and too hot for the U-boat,
IT. Kept at respectful distance.
mo- DOS and Sparks" the wireless
a. a. look the risk of the U-boat's
s.o ana repaired the aerials, and the
p d., plugged ahead for harbor.
MI y was some hours later before the
itap, Drew off, baffled by the indom-
n pluck of the British sailormen.
e" Below Decks Also Heroes.
.o anu Just word here for the "black
0 rd"o. Both watches of engineers
tho H'oKers were below throughout
tbro' zion, and though a shell came
u,ush the bEnkers and filled the
" carri"n with coal and ashes, they
Haze on with amazing pluck.
h,ele IS another fine hit of u,orL A