The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-12-26
London Timcs-Public Ledger Service
Special Correspondence. Copyright

(London Timcs-Pubrc Ledger Service.
Special Correspondence Copyright,
1915. by Public Ledger co..
LONDON Dec. S.--Thc disguise
adopted by such Of his niajosty's ships
rs were selected to cope with the U-bOat
menace pcrforcc varied according In the
changing fashions. In the carly days OF
the War the role Of carc-frcc ramp.
steering a steady course and minus
lookouts or gun. as sufficient TO lure tn"
enemy to close quarters on the surface.
Eut as the peculiar methods OF warfar"
adopted by the German government
harkeI back to days of piracy and rape,
so the custom the seas reverted to tho
arminS Of merchantmen for defensive
purposes.
For purpose of oftcnsc with which
this story Of a kings ship is concerned.
4 dummy gun suf1crd: at all vents for
pref min1rtcs. It was mounted prom
incntly aft. attended BY 4 cOnSpicuou$ly
visilant gunner. To outward APPEAR
anccs the ship was then In armored
British merchant vessel, steering n zig
Tag course for home ut good speed,
conscious that she was IN the danger
zone aud. by virtue of her unmistak:lblc
gun and position, liable to b" torpcdocd
at sight. according to the code Of Gus
toms and chivalry Of the sea revised
| by Germany. Torpcdocd at sight she
/ WAS. at S o'clock Of misty morning,
| in q binding rainSorTn and heavy sea
/ The torpedo was fired at apparently
close range, since it jumped out Of tht
water when 100 yards from the ship; ii
struck the engine room and adjacent
! hold. The stokcr petty officer, on duty
was killed outright by tho explosion and
| the third engineer, who held Il commits
| sion as engineer sub-licUtrnant in the
| naval reserve. was half stunned and
badly wounded by flying Splintcrs and
| fragments Of coal. Despite the thrush
Of water. he c0ntrivcd to rcnch the
hatclway and arrived on deck. r"cling
with shock. half flay"d and bleeding. Ia
staEgcr to his post in the second act Of
| tho grim drama.
| ON" of tho lffcboats had been hlOwi,
: :" s-1iihor""nS. FRAGMENTS of It being
/ lodged even IN ,hN wires Of tho aerial
between the maSts. 50 great was n"
! foecc of tho explosion. Under tn" corr
mand of the navigator. acting the part
| OF master. tho panic party aband"n"d
! the ship in tho remaining three boats
! rs tho ship settled deeper in the water
| Tho officers and men. who's" station WAS
! on board were already moti"nl"SS III
! their invisible guns: IN In" majority al
r:ueNs they wrrc concealed by screens
! hut tho crew Of the foremost gun w"r"
! compelled TO Ii" prone on their faces in
! ihr exposed forrcaSll". urahl" Ia stir 4
! muscle until tho order cam" To op",
! fire.
Leaden Minutes Followed.
! Then. for thrty-i!v" l"adcn minutes
! followed tho Sayac" ordeal "f waiting
! for the unknown For ;uGht rh"S" mo-
! t'nnl"Ss figures know. III" submarine
] might torpcd" them again NJ any mo-
mont. might break surface and Sh"i
! them A. cxtrcr" rar-" Till they sank
or. an rvnl. InuI.. u"ry,-r;tcklnS pnSSi.
! hiliiy. might SGT "ff III pursuit of =
! fresh victim AMI escape. W;thal. VA.
; hc consciousness that n Slmrl" may
mort on board. So rnurH rs q !inG"i
B raised above S"E""u or CuauIuE. would
! h'tray their tru" character and hrit.r
+! IL" game nr bluff I" Il swift and tragic
: conclusion. tn" p"rl$rUl" nf N" sub
. rarinc had hr"k.n surTar" a quarter
! If m hour after tn tnrir",i" $trur
, nhnut 400 yards di&tHn, "n Tho pur'
! beam /, turned after u Will" and
~r".r"G toward rH.' ai.iu hu' IN cap.
! Tain md Sicu:,lm'i' rrn'I,. at each -!
:ur ia" bldg" with 'h"I~ 'y"s glued :"
, iIir obs rv;t'I"r Sits. :l"n" wrr,. aAgr,
&c their quarry movements. II wns
: III tho tense stiffness or hos. moment :
! Il stiffness only .distur'"d hy TIA" lap
| ping of thr waves round TIA" water
| logged hull. and by tn" hiss of "S"an. M
steam, that from the little group al