The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1918-06-13
THE PEOPLES FORUM.
The Progress of the Sea Pirate.

The Progress of the Sea Pirate.
We have had our U-Boat scare and
have been awakened to the fact that
the pirate can make it bit uncomfort-
able for our coast. We have no fears
of his succeeding in the end, but he may
reek his murderous vengeance upon
helpless ships and innocent people, thus
causing considerable inconvenience and
loss for the time being. This pirate,
the U-Boat, never is so happy as when
engaged in the work of wholesale muir
der. Germany's day of reckoning will
come in due time administered by the
nations of the earth, or by the hand of
God, in dire judgment upon people and
lands. No nation can do as she has
done in the past and escape the Just
judgments of the Lord. They will be
melted out in justice and in proportion
to her iniqulties. She boosted of what
her U-boats would do and the world
was all attention, waiting for some
spectacular enterprise. But her ca
reer has been one of ruthless murder.
deliberate and cold blooded
On August 9th 1914 the U-boats at
tackled the British first light cruiser
squadron; but the only result was her
U-15 was sunk. On September 5, 1914
she drew her first blood, when the path
! finder, 2940 tons, was sunk at the en-
trance to the Firth of Forth. by Up.
with considerable loss of life. On Sep
TENDER %, 1914 three armoured cruisers
on patrol duty in the North Sea, had
| separated to take up their day stations,
three miles apart, the Abonker was
seen to reel violently and settle down.
| Her consorts rushed to her rescue.
When they had nearly reached her, one
from either side, two awful crashes
were heard close together and the two
vessels, on their mission of mercy were
sent down. The loss was 60 officers
and some 400 men. Germany was
jubilant, and the commander who had
brought off this successful exploit was
hero Of the first rank. He received
the Iron Cross, In the spring of 1915
his boat, the U29, was sent to the
bottom. A just retribution.
OF course, Germany was in high glee.
They would sweep the sea with their
U-boat piracy, and could she have re-
peated this exploit in any number, there
might have been some hope of achiev-
ing the aim of German strategy, and so
reducing the naval strength of Britain
as to enable Germany to encounter her
on the high seas, with some show of
success. But Won Tirpitz boosted too
soon. They would not have had that
victory if the Hogue and Cressy
had not thought more OF saving life
than assuring their own safety. On
October Is, 1914 a small cruiser was
torpedoed in the North Sea and sank in
ten minutes with only 70 of the officers
and crew saved. This closed the U-boat
record for 1914.
The record of 1915, which is much
longer, began with the sinking in the
channel on Jan. l, of the Formidable.
Is, 900 ton battleship. She was hit
by two torpedoes and the sea being
rough she settled rapidly. Of about
800, 200 officers and men were saved.
On March 18th an auxiliary cruiser,
the Bayano, was sunk at the entrance
to the Firth of Clyde. Out of 200 men
only 30 were saved.
One month later the transport Way
farer was torpedoed and was beached
at Queenstown.
On May LIST the destroyer Recruit
was sent down in the North Sea with
toll OF 80 lives. The battleships Tri-
umph and Majestic were in the same
month sunk off Gallipoli. Neither of
the ships were of much value, while the
loss of life was small. 1t was, how
eyer, the turning point in the Gallipoli
expedition for they seriously reduced
its chances of success; but they sue
ceeded in forcing America into the war.
On June 10th, two coastal Destroy
ers," the Greenf1y and the Mayfy were
sunk in the North Sea, with the loss of
some 80 lives. Ten days later the Rox-
burgh was struck but not greatly in
Jured. On the Both the destroyer,