Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1918-06-28
uon-Hearted British Crews Give
Good Account of Themselves
in Sea Warfare.
MANY DEEDS OF HEROIsM
Led by Clever Shippers, Sailors Bat
tie Against Almost Hopeless Odds,
Winning Victory Frequently BY
Seantiesf of Margins.

London.-So Sometimes 1t is illumlnat
Ing to look deeper into shipping re
ports than the statement. for instance
that lin three weeks six, four and
eleven British ships of more than LOGO
tons have been sunk" Doing so, one
finds that In one month-mld-M March
to mid-April-64 vessels were at
tackled by U-boats and escaped
From the logs of few tramp ships
IL the custody of the admiralty which
have come safely to port with their
ha,goes 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
iOokouts were posted and 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 glintfng
on Ler gray back, German subma-
rine was sighted.
AS she was seen the U-boat opened
nre and shells dropped all round the
steamship, which shifted her helm and
put the U-boat dead astcrn, 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 bit.
Then the steamship put up a smoke
screen and the U-boat dived in a
panic, apparently expecting instant
dissolution.
Second U-5oat 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 vigor, shrapnel sprinkling the
tramps decks. For salf an hour the
light 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 a fine
performance to beat Off two pirate
ships in such short space OF time,
and master and guns crew received
commentator from my lords of the
admiralty.
In another case it was a duel both
of gunnery and seamanship. Proceed
Ing steadfastly on her course, a Brit
lsh 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, U-boat appeared
a point or two on the starboard bow
to the nortnward. Instantly all
hands were ordered TO their stations.
delm was put full over. and the U-boat |
brought astern, fire being opened on |
the enemy, while frebox was light
ed. Il was difficult to distinguish the
enemy-a large boat, apparently
mounting two guns-which maneu-
ysred 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 Tansle.
But the British skipper was n better |
seaman than the German, and he skill
fully thwarted the enemy's scheme, |
and got Fritz In no end of a tangle.
Now and again the U-boat scored a
hit. The steamships wireless aerials
were carried away, her mainmast was
holed. the exhaust steampipe was per, |
forated and the starboard lifeboat I
and dinghy damaged. But that did /
not bother the steamship or her crew. i
The latter were grinning at the gun !
ners, who were having an exasperat-
Ing time of it. Just imagine crew
of expert gunners with fine gun. and
burning desire to strafe subma-
rine, finding that their gun platform
has collapsed. and that with "sub"
as target they have to fire more or
less by guesswork.
But as the navy men always do,
these gunners buckled TO. The gun
kicked abominably. and the Sighter
had his eyes blackened and his face
cut but despite this the shooting was
too close and too hot for the U-boat,
which kept at respectful distance.
The boSn and Sparks" the wireless /
man, took the risk of the U-boat's /
fire and repaired the aerials. and the
steamer plugged ahead Tor harbor. /
But it was some hours later before the /
pirate drew off, baffled by the indom-
liable pluck of the British sailormen.
Crew Below Decks Also Heroes.
And just a word here for the BLACK I
squad" Both watches of engineers /
and stokers were below throughout +
the action. and though a she'll came /
through the bunkers and filed the /
stokehold with coal and ashes, they !
carried on with amazing pluck.
Here is another fine bit of work A