The Monticellonian., 1918-01-18

whole crew displayed most commendable spirit during the battle"
 This is precisely as it should be- bluejaekets and merchant seamen standing together, fighting the enemy one intrepid American crew, and the Stars and Stripes hosted at the first shot by order of the skipper Chief Gunner Clark had the honor to report to the navy department:
 As the submarine displayed flag and was coming nearer fired shot. The submarine, which was then about 1000 yards away, replied immediately with what seemed to me, on account of the range, sfX-ineh gun Her first shot fell amidships about 100 yards short. We changed our course due west, increasing speed. The sub marine followed us. keeping up fire. The fight lasted from o'clock until about : 30 D. m. We fired 9 shots. The submarine fired over 30, in- eluding some shrapnel toward the end, which ex poded astern of ship too high to do any dam age.
 "Our last two shells seem to have hit the sub marine in the forward part. few seconds later her bow jumped up, and she went down, stern upward at an angle of about 45 degrees. The sub marine did not come up again. and believe it was sunk then and there. No damage done to ship, and there casualties
 The steamer was still within effective range of the big guns of the submarine, which could have had no other reason than sudden attack of acute Illness for vanishing in this abrupt manner It seems fairly conclusive that q shell blew her part ly out of water. and then she went lungng and
 
 stop to search for traces of the disaster, but shly continued along her Tankers filled, with millions of gallons of gasoline do not finger in the zone
 The American passenger liners, maintaining their service almost regularly us in time of peace, would naturally run the gantlet much often CT than the same number of cargo boats. They sail. on express schedule and spend little time ill port. It is secret that they fast ant well armed, able to whip submarine in q fight with guns. The deadly torpedo is another matter, but speed has so far been saving factor It is what the gunners board call the sporty fe," nor can IL be recommended to people with nervous sys- tems as a restful vocation. For example one of these liners, during tie first six months of war. made only one perfectly tame and routine voyage. During all other trips across there were fights with submarines escapes from torpedoes.
 Extracts from the navy departments reports of these steamers may be chosen almost at random us interesting reading with a thrill In It. These are fair samples of what It means to make the Atlantic voyage, which is longer common place soothing ocean ferry"
 "The lookout in the lower crows nest, a cox swain of the naval guard picked up oil slick ahead, which veered off to port at right angles to the ships course. Following the slick, which about the width of ship, he suddenly the periscope of a submarine appear at the end of 1t, about one foot out of the water. He instantly sung out, Periseope, and the next moment. Tor pedo, for the submarine had been exposed scarcely more than second when she fired q torpedo. The enemy then about 900 yards from the ship and three-fourths point forward of the beam.
 "The torpedo was running straight, but appar- enty having trouble in maintaining its depth, for when about 200 yards off I saw a streak. then at q depth of about five feet. It dived and passed under the ship about 30 feet from the stern. Soon after heading away from the submarine we picked up abandoned lifeboat two points off the star board bow. The submarine had apparently been lying the life boat and on seeing us approach had headed off to assume position for attack on port side probably expecting us to pick up the lifehoat and thus miss seeing him. Fortunately, however the oil slick sighted first
 The old hands among the gunners paid no at tention to the torpedo, which coming right for them, but made every effort to get the guns the target which was the submarines perscope'
 What might be called close shave befell anoth- steamer on the return voyage
 "'There were several other ships in the vicinity runs the report, including two tankers and de- stroyer and two three tramps. Suddenly peri scope was sighted quarter of mile away show ing up plainly in the streak of moonlight the water. The submarine seemed to he just coming up and had probably msiudged the speed of the steamer, having her time earlier. Be fore torpedo could be fired the guns manned, the steamer right top of the submarine which submerged. The chief officer threw the helm hard and went straight for him, hoping ooo~ooeo~ooo~oo~~o~~ ~o~~>oo~o~ooo>oo~.