The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1918-01-19

S7( up on every voyage across the Atlantic.
/&U In saloons where merchant seamen
SHH seek haven and pound the bar with
NV marry fists strong liquors magnify the
tales and one concludes that the kais-
ers undersea fleet must be wiped ont nv
now Inc navy's records are less %fanciful, strictly
auherlng to the motto of the man from Missouri.
here is the account of an action fought by a
cargo steamer which leaves no room for doubt
that one very busy U-boat was suddenly removed
from the active list OF the imperial German navy
Il is ADVISABLE to omit the name of the chief boat
SWANS mate who commanded the gun crews. He
was promoted to warrant rank as a reward for
tne feat and Is now stationed ashore, but he NAV
~ u sea again In charge of another lot of gun
ners, and If he should be taken prisoner the enemy
"uuNu not love him for what he did to a missing
submarine. In his official report he states:
weather hazy. Saw a submarine firing on a
topsal schooner, which shortly after blew nm
changed course to bring the submarine on our
stArDoard beam about 5000 yards distant and lost
sight OF her in haze. Continued on this course for
TWO hours and then resumed our original course.
AT ZOO p. IN. the submarine appeared out of the
maze at z,oO yards on our starboard beam. She
Immediately opened fire. We changed course to
Drlng hr three points on the starboard quarter
and returned the fire.
The engagement lasted 35 minutes, during
which time the submarine fired about 40 shots
scoring one. hit under our port counter a foot from
the water, and causing a leak. We fired 81 shots.
Inc twenty-s1xth shot was seen to hit her Just
forward of the forward gun, and a cloud of flame
and dark gray smoke burst from the matches, The
crew of the submarine left the gun and ran aft.
Almost instantly the submarine sank, bow first,
the stern lifting high out of the water, so that the
propellers could be seen revolving. The steamer
was leaking and temporary repairs were made by
the crew."
When the ship reached her foreign port of des-
tinaton and reported the victory an official In
curry was ordered by the French government. A
naval lieutenant conducted 1t with great care and
confirmed the verdict of the American gunners.
The steamer fought with the American flag flying,
he stated in his written opinion, firing q shots in
half an hour. The distance increased about 100
meters for each shot. The twenty-sixth shot ex-
ploded, producing a thick black smoke, which was
visible to all on shipboard. Such an explosion
must have been produced in the submarine itself.
He said, in summing up the evidence:
"The result of the inquiry is that the fight has
been very well conducted and that the men have
shown a very fine spirit, doing honor to the Amer
lean navy. The conclusion may be drawn that the
submarine was hit and probably sunk"
This was frst-class shooting, the submarine
steadily drawing away until when struck she was
5000 yards, and more, or three land miles from
the steamer. Binoculars and telescope sights en-
abled the gunners to distinguish her with clear
ness and to note the effects of the shell which
ended her wretched career. 1t was her command
er's intention to move beyond range and continue
the action on the chance that he had the bigger
guns, but he miscalculated, and paid the price.
1t seemed a cruel slant of fortune that this
American steamer, which so brilliantly bagged a
submarine, should have accidentally burned at sea
on her next voyage. There was no time to stretch
hose or muster the crew. Ablaze in an instant,
she was one vast furnace while the men raced for
the boats with death at their heels. All hands got
away, including the navy gunners, and their cruise
In open boats was made without severe suffering.
1t was all in the days work.
Very similar to this successful encounter was
tho adventure of the steamer Silver Shell. In this
instance also the French ministry Of marine added
its opinion that the submarine had probably been
hit and sunk. The chief gunner won promotion
shortly after this statement was issued by Secre-
tary Daniels:
civilian ]. Clark of New York, chief turret cap
tain and commander of the naval gun crew of the
Silver Shell, is deserving Of promotion, which we
nre now considering. All the other members of the
crew, as well. and what they have done, deserve
great credit and distinction. The chief turret cap
tain Is a very capable man. He IL an enlisted man
who hns seen dearly IL years of service in the
navy and has won successive promotions by proven
capacity. For his work he deserves the very best
that can be done for him."
Here was a man fit and ready for his Job, and
he knew how to put his own spirit and experience
into the team play of his gunners. An American
naval officer Of high rank detailed on special duty
Mt n French post conducted an inquiry and found
pleasure in writing to Washington that the mas
over the splendid work of the turret captain and
the entire naval gun crew: he also states that his