Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-12-21
Mystery Ships Lure
Subs to Destruction

Correspondence Associated Press.l
London, Nov. 21.-One of the most
exciting chapters of the war against
German C-boats Is a series of accounts
! of notable engagements between Brit
,jl decoy ships and the submarines,
made public by the British admiralty.
While the whole story Of the part
| played by these decoy vessels.
| mystery ships or 20" craft has not
| been revealed. it is evident that several
of them were used to lure the Hun
, undensea craft to their destruction.
Some incidents In this campaign
already have been made known. dealing
chiefly with few Of the exploits OF
Commander Gordon Campbell, as
master OF the decoy vessels; but others
in which he and other captains parti-
cipated now are available That at
least a small fleet was used in this
work is evident from the fact that
Campbell at d.ffeernt times appears
as the master of the Marlborough. the
ParguSt,' the Dunraven and the Q-5.
The Prize. another decoy ship, was
commanded by Lieut.. William E. San
ders and the Stock Force by Lieut..
Harold Auten.
Stories Of the encounters. between
these ships and the U-boats are filled
with deeds of heroism and instances in
which the discipline Of the British
navy was displayed under the trying
circumstances. For many months the
decoy ships heavily armed but with
their guns hidden behind false bull
warks. steamed zig-zag paths in the
seas which were the hunting grounds
Of the submarine.
In their character Of lazy GOLFERS or
slow cargo craft they presented to the
submarine commander an inviting OBJ
ject Of attack but once he was we'll
within range of the British guns. the
false superstructure hiding the guns
fell away and the helpless collier be-
came suddenly transformed into
fighting craft. bent on destruction. 1t
was dangerous work requiring the high
order Of courage for the submarine
must be lured near before the guns
could safely begin their work Mean
time the Hun frequently had sent his
torpedo home and the decoy ship was
disabled, sometimes on fire and part Of
her crew wounded. In that condition
submarine destroyed.
Panic parties" was one Of the ruses
practiced by the decoy ships COM
mander to coax the submarine along
side. when the mystery ship was tor
pedoed these panic parties~tpok to the
boats, apparently abandoning their
vessel but always leaving on board an
other crew to man the guns and fnish
the submarine If it came near enough.
The first encounter mentioned by the
Admiralty took place in March. 1918
when the Marlborough. disguised as
collier was attacked by submarine.
The "panic party" took to the boats
and when the submarine closed in to
about 500 yards the Farpborough
opened fire on her. The U-boat sub
merged and the marlborough passed
over her dropping depth-bombs. The
submarine reappeared standing almost
on end. Five FUNDS were fired into her
at nearly point blank range and she
went to the bottom of the sea.
Prior to that action the Farnboroush
had cruised thruout the, entire winter
| without being attacked,
Within q month the Marlborough
coaxad another submarine near enough
to sink her by gunflre. Commander
CaMpbell later was transferred to the
command of the ,Q-5 and in the follow
Ing February. 1917, his vessel was tor
pedoed by submarine which eventu-
ally approached so near that a shot
from. the. Farm borough beheaded the
u boat captain as he climbed out Of
the tower, the submarine was sunk
with her coming tower open and her
crew pouring out. Destroyers towed
| the Q-5 in and beached her. For this
exploit the Victoria Cross was awarded
Campbell. g
The decoy ship Pargalst with Camp
bel in command was torpedoed on
June Z. 1917, while disguised ~ q
British merchant vessel. The subrna-
rine came within fifty yards Of ythe
Pargust which then opened Are on her
with all guns The submarine crew
poured out Of the coming tower and
held up their hands in token Of sur
render, but the U7boat steamed away
trying to escape in the mist The Far
gust again opened Are on her and
sunk her with one man cfnging to her
bow as she went down. The decoy
vessel was towed back to port by
American destroyers. Two Victoria
Crosses were awarded for this sue
cessful action.