Evening star., 1919-12-28

depth charge Prompt and correct ac-
tion of Commander Johnson saved
more ships from being torpedoed ana
probably destroyed the submarine.
u X
One of the greatest difficulties OF con-
voy commanders, especially during the
first months the system was In opera
tion, was with Stacker" merchantmen
these were vessels, which, for various
reasons, fell behind the convoy, tempt
ing bait for the submarine. At this time
certain Of the merchant captains mani
tested an incurable obstinacy; :, they af-
fected to regard the U-boats with COR
tempt, and insisted rather on taking
chances instead of playing the game.
In such cases a destroyer would often
have to leave the main division, go back
several miles and attempt to prod the
straggler into joining the convoy, much
as shepherd dog attempts to force the
laggard sheep to keep within the flock.
IN some cases, when the merchantmen
proved particularly obdurate, the de-
stroyer would slyly drop depth charge,
near enough to give the backward vessel
considerable shaking up without do
ing her any injury usually such
shock caused the merchantmen to start
full speed ahead to rejon her convoy.
nrmly believing that a subma rine was
giving chase. In certain instances the
merchantmen fell behind the convoy
because the machinery had broken down
because ha hoe
dents. The submarines would follow
Tor days in the track Of conveys, look
ing for straggler of this kind, Just
as a shark will follow vessel in the
nope that something will be thrown
overheard and for this reason one de-
stroyer at least was often detached
from the escorting division as rear
guard. In this connection we must keep
IN mind that at no time until the armi-
stlce was signed was any escort force
strong enough to insure entire safety.
"hlch added to the very heavy re-
sponslblllty upon escort commanders.
ohe late summer afternoon the
American converted yacht Christahe,
was performing this duty for the
ntlsh merchantman Danae, a vessel
which had fallen eight miles behind
her convoy. bound from La Pallice.
France, to Brest. 1t was a beautiful
evening: the weather was clear the
sea smooth. and there was not a
breath of wind. Under such condi-
tions a submarine could conceal it's
presence only with great difficulty;
Z.9n
Chrlstaoel detected a wake, some six
hundred yards on the port quarter.
Ihe Christabel started at full speed: :
the wake suddenly ceased, but a few
splotches of oil were seen, and she
was steered in the direction of this
disturbance. A depth charge was
dropped at the spot where the sub
marine ought to have been. but it
evidently did not produce the slight
est result. The Christabel rejoined
the Danae. and the two went along
peacefully for nearly four hours
when suddenly a periscope appeared
about two hundred yards away, on the
starboard side. Evidently this per-
sistent German had been following
the ships all the time. looking for a
favorable opportunity to discharge
his torpedo
The moment had now arrived: the
submarine was at distance where
carefully aimed shot meant certain
destruction; the appearance of the
periscope meant that the subma rine
was making observations in anticipa-
tion Of delivering this shot. The
Christabel started full speed for the
wake OF the periscope; this periscope
itself disappeared under the water
like guilty thing. and disturbance
on the surface showed that the sub
marine was making frantic efforts to
submerge. The destroyer dropped it's
depth charge, set to eXlode at seventy
feet. it's radio meantime sending sig
nails broadcast for assistance. I'm
mediately after the mushroom of
water arose from this charge a sec
ondary explosion was heard; this was
horrible and muffied sound coming
from the deep, more powerful and
more terrible than any that could
have been caused by the destroyer's
ash can" An enormous volcano Of
water and all kinds Of debris arose
from the sea. half way between the
Christabel and the spot where it had
dropped it's charge.
Aa