The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-21
ZEEBRUGGE RAID
TALE STIRS 1000
Captain Carpenter of Royal
Navy Draws Picture for
Economic Club.
PRAISE FOR AMERICANS
Hero Of Submarine Exploit
Tells Of Cordial COopcra-
ton of Navies.
PRAISE FOR AMERICANS

The story OF the Zeebrusge raid, in
which men we're spent like nickels and
more than 100 ships participated, was
related last night by Capt. Alfred F. j.
Carpenter OF the royal navy. comman-
der OF the Vindictive, to 1000 members
and guests Of the Economic Club in the
grand banquet hall Of the Hotel Astor.
The raid, which had for its purpose
the blocking of the channel from which
the German submarines and raiders
were harassing allied shipping and
threatening the food supply of the Brit
ish Isles. has been described before. but
never proba bly, TO so enthusiastic an
audience The modest recital of Capt.
Carpenter was interrupted time ana
again by outbursts of applause from the
diners who filed the vast hall. and from
guests who damned the double height
OF balconies around the room
The crowd cheered for several minutes
when Rear Admiral Hugh Rodhan.
commander OF the American battle
SQUADRON which cooperated in the North
Sea with the British Grand Fleet. intro
duced Capt. Carpenter with the words
mo one in this war ever struck such a
blow at the pride and morale or the
Germans as Capt Carpenter"
Nnyics Worked in Harmony.
When he could make himself heard
Cant. Carpenter, referring to the remarks
previously made by Rear Admiral Rod
man concerning the cooperation of the
American and British navies, said:
Il understand that there Is certain
amount of insidious propaganda going
about that our navies did not cut in
quite rs well together as might have been
hoped. If any man tells you that tell
him he is a damned liar. And If you
don't believe me I'll refer you to Admiral
Rodman."
In his account Capt Carpenter laid
stress on the great amount OF planning
five months work--which had 10 be
done before way of approaching n
mine strewn. shallow coast, defended
along n stretch OF twelve miles with
225 coast defence guns capable OF main
tanning an effective-efeCtive being a
naval cuphemism for deady--bombard-
ment at a range OF $4,000 Yards the
longest range ever used in the war.
The problem was a somewhat knotty
one" Capt. Carpenter remarked. In
fact It was looked upon as impossible
except with smoke harrage."
He then told how. after two attempts
which failed before the actual attack be-
cause Of weather conditions. the 1856
ships drew near their various stations
at midnight. of how the Nindictive. with
its two marine laden ferryhoat compan-
ions. got within five minutes OF the mole
ut Zeehrugce when the wind suddenly
changed and blew the wrong way making
the smoke barrage useless. Nevertheless
the raid was launched, the Nindictive
and the two other vessels poured their
troops out upon the mole to capture the
guns which prevented the block ships
from drawing near, the guns captured In
the face of the fire OF everything the
Germans had" fire that withered men
like petals in furnace, and the block
ships placed and sunk in the channel.
Capt Carpenters station was in a
fame throwing hut on the superstructure
OF his ship. and after tho raid zoo bullet
and shrapnel holes were counted in the
walls This was one Of the reasons why
he wears the Victoria Cross. The ma
rines who fought upon the mole. he said
were told afterwards they might vote for
tho particular member Of their party
who was 10 receive the V. {. az their
collective representative.