The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-02-09


tales, and one concludes that the kais-
~ars undersea fleet must be wiped out By
nov. The navy'S records are less fancfu strictly
adhering to the motto of the man from Missouri.
Here is the account of action fought by
cargo steamer which leaves for doubt
that very busy U-bOat suddenly removed
from the active list Of the imperial German navy.
1t IS advisable to omit the of the chief boat
SWANS mate who commanded the gun crews. He
was promoted to warrant rank n reward for
che feat and is stationed ashore. but he may
70 sea again in charge of another lot Of gun
z1erS, and If he should be taken prisoner the enemy
would not love him for what he did TO a missing
submarine. In his official report he states:
weather haZy. Saw submarine firing on
topsail schooner which shortly after blew up
Changed course 10 bring the submarine on our
sfarboard 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 2:55 p. m. the submarine appeared out OF the
haze al $500 yards starboard beam. She
Immediately opened fire. We changed course TO
bring her three points the starboard quarter
and returned the fire
1.-THE engagement lasted IS minutes. during
which time the submarine fired about 40 shots.
scoring one hit under our port counter foot from
the water and causing a leak We fired q shots.
The twenty-sixth shot was seen to hit her just
forward of the forward gun. and cloud Of fame
and dark gray smoke burst from the matches. The
Almost instantly the submarine sank bow first,
the lifting high out of the water, so that the
propeIlers 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-
1ination and reported the victory official in
quiry was ordered by the French government. A
naval lieutenant conducted it 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 "a shots IN
half an hour The distance increased about 1oO
meters for each shot. The twenty shot eX-
ploded, producing thick black smoke which was
visible to all shipboard. Such an explosion
must have been produced in the submarine ltseif.
he said. in summing up the evidence:
The result of the inquiry Is that the tight mas
been very we'll conducted and that the men nave
shown a very fine spirit doing honor to the Amer
lean navy. The conclusion may be drawn that inc
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, three land miles from
the steamer. Binoculars and telescope sights Gu
ahied the gunners to distinguish her with Clear
mess and to note the effects of the shell "hicll
ended her wretched career. 1t was her coninahu-
s-'s intention to beyond range ana continue
the action on the chance that he had the digger
guns. but he miscalculsted. and paid the price.
IT seemed q cruel slant of fortune that thls
American steamer, which so brilliantly oaggeu
submarine should have accidentally burned at sea
on her next voyage. There was no time TO stre'ch
hose or muster the crew. AblaZe In an instant
she was one vast furnace while the men raced 1ot
rhe boats with death at their heels All hands got
away including the navy gunners, and their cruise
IN open boats was made without severe suHerihs
1t was all in the days work.
Worry similar to this successful encounter was
che adventure of the steamer Silver Shell. In ti>
a,s+,oce also the French ministry Of marine adueo
,.s on,nion that the submarine had probably oeel
hit and sunk The chief gunner won promotioi
,o-+Iv after this statement issued by Score
tary Daniels: -
.william ]. Clark of New York. chief turret cap
.,, snd commander of the naval gun crew OF I'M
<Surer She'll is deserving of promotion, when W.
-. ,,o,,. considering. All the other members or th
,r a. we'll and what they have done deserve
- or,dit and distinction The chief turret cap
e., i very capable man. He is an enlisted ma
~ has seen nearly l. years OF service IN IN
-. a,a has won successive promotions by proven
c,n,city For his work ne deserves 'he 'e'S oe'
rbat can be done for HIM.
-, ,vos a man fit and ready LOT MS Joo' an
tovv how TO put his own spirit ana eAieFiehe
- +,on, nlav OF his Gunners. An America
- a44csr of high rank detailed on Speeial cut
,,,-ob most conducted an inquiry ana iouh
=. - !, writing TO Washington that Inc nas
.ha silver Shell WAS particularly enIhusiasu
- Tho sDenlld work Of the turre' sAp'ain =, !,
,n+i-, naval gun crew: he also states tHat ~