Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1918-06-27
sbn-Hearted British Crews Give
Good Account of'ThemseIves
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.


Ing to look deeper into shipping re-.
ports than the statement, for instance,
that Sin three weeks six, four and
eleven British ships of more than 1900
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 a leisurely
six knots, entered the danger zone.
All precautions were taken. extra
l0okouts were posted ana 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 it a 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 yigor, shrapnel sprinkling the
tramp's decks. For aalf an hour the
5iiss the
y ship $ shells fell close to the U-boat,
which dixed and u want shed under the;
water just as a patrol boat appeared
on the scene and loosed off couple
of devastating rounds. It was fine
performance to beat off two pirate
ships in such a short space of time,
and master and guns crew received
commentator from my lords of the
admiralty.
In another case it was duel both
Of gunnery and seamanship. Proceed
ing steadfastly on her course, a Brit
fish 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, a U-boat appeared
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. It 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 TanaIe.
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 8
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 die
not bother the steamship or her crew
The latter were grinning at the gun
ners, who were having an exasperat
ing time of 1t. Just imagine crew
Of expert gunners with fine gun, ant
a burning desire to strafe subma
rine, finding that their gun platform
has collapsed, and that with a sub
as target they have to fire more OF
less by guesswork.
But as the navy men always do
these gunners buckled to. The gun
kicked abominably, and the sighte
udu Ills eyes UldChCAcu duO HIS ldC'
cut. but despite this the shooting wa
too close and too hot for the U-boat
which kept at respectful distance
The bos'n and Sparks" the wireless
man, took the risk Of the U-boat'
fire and repaired the aerials, and tn
steamer plugged ahead for harbol
But it was some hours later before tn
pirate drew off, baffled by the indom
liable pluck of the British sailormen
Crew Below Decks ALEC Heroes
And just word here for the 'blacl
squad" Both watches Of engineer
and stokers We're below Throughout
the action, and though a shell cam
through the bunkers and filled tn
stokehold with coal and ashes, the.
Carried on with amazing pluck.
Here is another fine bit Of work. !
big ship in ballast. standing out o
the water like cathedral, was nav