The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-12-21
BRITISH DEC0Y SHIPS
LURED U-BOATS TO FATE
One of the Most Exciting Features OF
Warfare Against German Subma-
rines Has Been Revealed
in Part.

London, Dec 81 Correspondence of
the Associated Press One of the most
exciting chapters of the war against Ger.
man U-boats is series of accounts of
notable engagements between British de-
coy 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 evil
| dent that several of them were used TO
lure the Hun undersea craft to their de-
| struction.
Some incidents in this campaign al
ready 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 participated now
are available. That at least a small fleet
was used in this work is evident from
the fact that Campbell at different times
appears as the master of the Farnbor
ough, the Pargust, the Dunrayen and the
los.
The Prize, another deeoy ship, was
commanded by Lieutenant William f.
Sanders and the Stock Force by Lieuten-
ant 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 heay-
lily armed but with their guns hidden be-
hind false bulwarks, steamed zig gag
paths in the seas which we're the hunting
grounds Of the submarine.
In their character of lazy golfers or
slow cargo craft they presented to the
submarine commander an inviting object
of attack but once he was well within
range Of the British guns, the false SUI
perstructure hiding the guns fell away
and the helpless collier became suddenly
transformed into a 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.
Meantime 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 the
battle was fought and often the subma
rine destroyed
panic parties" was one Of the ruses
praeticed by the decoy ships commander
to coax the submarine alongside, When
the mystery ship was torpedoed these
panic parties took to the boats, appar
emily abandoning their vessel but always
leaving on board another crew to man
the guns and finish the submarine if ii
came near enough.
The first encounter mentioned by the
admiralty took place in March, 1915,
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 Marlborough opened fire
on her The U-boat submerged and the
Marlborough passed over her, dropping
depth bombs. The submarine reappeaTed
standing almost on end Five rounds
were fired into her at nearly point blank
range and she went to the bottom of the
sea.
Prior to that action the marlborough
had crlised throughout the entire winter
without being attacked
Within month the Marlborough
coaxed another submarine near enough
to sink her by gunfire. Commander
tdmpDell later was transferred 10 Jne
command of the Q-5 and in the follow
ing February, 1916, his vessel was tor
pedoed by a submarine which eventually
approached so near that shot from the
Marlborough beheaded the U-boat cap
tain as he climbed out Of the tower, the
submarine was sunk with her coming
tower open and her crew pouring out.
Destroyers towed the o. in and beached
her For this exploit the Victoria cross
was awarded 10 Campbell.
The decoy ship Pargust with Campbell
in command was torpedoed on June Z,
1917, while disguised as a British mer-
chant vessel The submarine came with
in so yards of the Parglst, which then
opened fire on her with all guns. The
submarine crew poured out Of the con
ming tower and held up their hands in
token of surrender, but the U-boat
steamed away trying to escape in the
mist, The Pargust again opened fire on
her and sunk her with one man clinging
to her bow as she went down. The decoy
vessel was towed back to port by Amer
lean destroyers. Two Victoria crosses
were awarded for this successful action