The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-24
LUCK HELPS U-BOAT
SEND DOWN DIOMED
One Shell Disabled Engines,
Another Struck Freight
er's Only Gun. 90.
CREW FOUGHT TO LAST
Vessel Was Within $50 Miles
Of New York and Captain
. .-.r. Felt. Safe. .. 49,. :,

f#H.a v-------T-~-- 4..a
After passing without incident through
the most dangerous OF the submarine In
tested sones the Booth liner Doomed.
now in the British Admiralty service,
was destroyed within $50 miles of New
York Wednesday morning by a German
U-boat Of the largest type. but not until
after her crew had shewn striking proof
Of their mettle. '.,,~,.. So ,y..
The battle between the two ships,
sharp as II was during, the thirty-five
minutea II progressed, was unequal from
the beginning and the outcome obvious,
for tho German had two heavy guns, fore
and, aft, while the Britisher had but
one, aft, yet the stubborn British seamen
refused to Quit untii their ship was lit
orally. riddled. the steam steering gear
Put out OF order, part Of the bridge shot
away. the main steam pipe smashed and
the gun platform struck. .rt-.. s.
When this last happened the order to
abandon ship was given and the men
got, away In the six remaining lifeboats.
two having been shattered by shells from
the subnersibie. Meanwhiie a gunner.
James Ross. had been killed and quar-
termaster. whose name was not revealed,
30 badly wounded that he died soon
afterward; while more than a dozen
others were wounded by exploding
shrapnel and still others scalded by
escaping steam. 'r'
The survivors, 1o4 In all. Including the
wounded, were landed at an Atlantic
port yesterday by British tanker which
picked them UP two hours after they had
taken to the lifeboats Capt Baker Of
the Diomed was reticsnt. but the story
Of the night was told by another of the
crew. who seemed amazed at the &C.
curacy OF the Germans IRE
Attacked at Break OF Dawn.
The Diomed was nosing along feeling
moderately secure in the knowledge that
she was but $50 miles from New York
when, Just as the first faint streaks of
dawn were spreading over the heavens,
shells began whizzing over the stern, a
grim apprfsal to the crew of what was
up, Promptly the raider was sighted the
liner man9uvred so that its one gun
could return the fire, and the scrap was
on. But let the witness tell Of t.:
The submarine was of the largest
type. She used both her guns and soon
shells were raining around the D,omed.
We seemed to have as good range as the
Hun. but We had only one gun. The
weather was clear and conditions favor
able to the U-boat We stood to the
northward. xigzagktng and firing six
shots minute at the pursuer
He was getting the range and the
first shot to hit struck aft OF the fun
mel and ripped away a couple Of life
boats and some Of the superstructure
Another shot tore away half the bridge.
Tho Quartermaster. who was steering.
was injured no badly that he died later
In ono Of the boats. The steam steering
gear was put out Of service. so the cap
| tain ordered some OF US to man the hand
gear in order that the fight might be
continued.
''shrapnel was dropping around on the
deck pretty lively about that time and
several men were hit. The hand gear
worked and the engineers, were giving
the old packet every pound she would
| stand. The fire from the U-boat, though,
! was accurate: must say that. In the
first twenty minutes I should say they
had the old Diomed riddled.
I'VE shook her up and the gunners
| continued to fire whenever they could
get on the target. When we had been
hard at II for half an hour a U-boat shell
| entered the engine room, shattered the
main steam pipe and the ship was help
less. She was not only out of control
but the steam blew aft, enveloping the
sunners no they could not see the sub
| very often. .-"
Gunner Dies at Post.
Those U-boat sunners were lucky
They put In a chance shot through the
| steam cloud that struck the gun plat.
form, the exploding shell killing James
Ross. one of the naval gunners, who
was waiting to fire, and wounded others
| of the gun crew. The old ship wal
pretty much OF wreck by then.
mo use to stick to 1t any longer.
| was the word sent along by the skipper
We started to lower the boats after
| placing the wounded in them. but the
Hun continued to shell US and one Of
the injured men was wounded q second
time as he lay in a boat. The Diomed
was settling fast as the last boat showed
| off. She went down soon afterward."
| Then. according to the survivors. q
| thing amazing to British salts more OF
| less familiar with U-boat officers tao.
| tics happened. The submarine cam,
| alongside the boats while an officer
1 asked In excellent English II the raider.
surgeon could be Of any service to tn,
| wounded Almost overcome by this evil
| dence Of humanity. Capt Baker at onct
| suspected there was a Joker somewhere
and decided he would rather trust hi,
men to the tender mercies OF the ocean'u
breezes. He declined the offer quite po
litely, and the U-boat moved off serenely
! without submerging.
| Two hours later the welcome tanker
hove In sight s,.
Tho piomed was built in Greenock
Scotland. in 1895. She was OF 4,70t
gross tonnage. 8s2 fest over all, ~ fee
beam and 26 feet draught- She piled II
the service of the British Admiralty be
tween Liverpool and New York.
| 1t was doubtless the same submarin,
officer who held up yesterday morning
an incoming Swedish steamer. for he al
lowed II to proceed unmolested after g
short parlsy. .f.,-....-.
| The captain told the freighter's skip
per in burst Of confidence that he wal
carrying foodstuffs for his own country
And then. again displaying his kindly
disposition. warned the merchantmaI
that for his own good he had bettei
quit the American trade. 20 ,...
l. "You would not sink us without
! warning?" one Of the officers OF tn,
| freighter asked.
| Don't be too sure shout that" wal
| the reply. Best not to take an,
chances."
DRAFT BOARD NIGHT FOR ZIP.