The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-01-21

Harold Anten.
Full Of Heroic Deeds
Stories of the encounters between
these ships and the U-boats are filed
with deeds of heroism and instances in
which the discipline of the British navy
was displayed under trying circum-
stances. For many months the decoy
ships, heavily armed, but with their
guns hidden behind false bulwarks,
steamed zigzag paths In the seas which
were the hunting grounds Of the sub.
marines.
In their character Of lazy Golfers or
slow cargo craft they presented to the
submarine commander an inviting OBJ
ject Of attack, but once he was well
within range Of the British guns the
false superstructure hiding the guns
fell away and the helpless collier be-
came suddenly transformed into q
fighting craft, bent on destruction. It
was dangerous work, requiring high
order Of courage, for the submarine
must be lured near before the guns
could safely begin their work. Mean
time the Hun frequently had sent his
torpedo home, and the decoy ship was
disabled, sometimes on fire and part
of her crew wounded. In that condi.
ton the battle was fought and often
the submarine destroyed.
"Panic parties" was one Of the ruses
practiced by the decoy ships COM
mander to coax the submarine along
side. When the mystery ship was tor
pedoed these panic parties took to the
boats, apparently abandoning their
vessel, but always leaving on board
another crew to man the guns and fin
ish the submarine If 1t came near
enough.
The first encounter mentioned by
the admiralty occurred in March, 1916,
when the Marlborough, disguised as
collier, was attacked by submarine.
The panic party" took to the boats,
and when the submarine closed in to
about 800 yards the Marlborough
opened fire on her. The U-boat SUBJ
merged and the Marlborough passed
over her, dropping depth bombs. The
submarine reappeared, standing al
most on end. Five rounds were fred
into her at nearly pointblank range.
and she went to the bottom Of the
sea.
Sunk by Gunfire.
Prior to that action the Marlborough
had cruised throughout the entire win
ter without being attacked. Within q
month the Marlborough coaxed an
other submarine near enough to sink |
her by gunfire.
Commander Campbell later was
transferred to the command Of the
Q-5, and in the following February,
1917, his vessel was torpedoed by q
submarine, which eventually ap-
preached so near that shot from the |
beheaded the U-boat cap |
tain as he climbed out of the tower,
the submarine was sunk, with her con-
ming tower open and her crew pour
ing out. Destroyers towed the QS |
In and beached her. For this exploit |
the Victoria Cross was awarded to |
Campbell.
The decoy ship Pargust, with Camp. |
bell in command, was torpedoed on |
June Z, 1917, when disguised as q
British merchant vessel. The subma-
rine came within 80 yards Of the, Par
gust, which then opened fire on her |
with all guns. The submarine crew |
poured out of the coming tower and
held up their hands In token Of sur
render, but the U-boat steamed away,
trying to escape in the mist. The |
Pargust again opened fire on her, and
sunk her with one man clinging to her |
bow as she went down. The decoy
vessel was lowed back to port by |
American destroyers. Two Victoria
crosses were awarded for this success
full action.