The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1919-01-23
MYSTERY SHIPS
TRAP U-B0ATS
Exploits Of Fleet of British Decoy
i Craft.
FALSE BULWARKs IND GUNS
SPanie Parties" Fled Over Side as Sub.
\ marines Approached, but Left Marks
men Behind-Stories Of Encounters
With German Submarines Are Filled
With Deeds Of Heroism-Many
Ruses Are Employed.

One of the most exciting chapters Of
the war against U-boats is a series Of
accounts of notable engagements be-
tween British decOy ships and the
submarines, made public by the Brit
ish admiralty. While the whole story
of the part played by these decoy YES
sells. mystery ships" or %" craft has
not been revealed, it is evident that
several of them were used to lure the
undersea craft to destruction.
Some incidents in this campaign al
ready have been made known, dealing
chiefly with a few of the exploits Of
Commander Gordon Campbell as mas
Ter of the decoy vessels; but others
In which he and other captains par
ticipated, now are available. That at
least a small fleet was used in this
work is evident from the fact that
Campbell at different times appears
las the master of the Marlborough, the
Pargust, the Dunraven, and the Q-5.
The Prize. another decoy ship. was
commanded by Lieut.. William e. Sand.
ers, and the Stock Force by Lieut..
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
gums 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
iect 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 a
lighting 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.
tion 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
fish the submarine if it came near
enough.
The first encounter mentioned by
the admiralty occurred in March, 1916,
when the Marlborough. disguised as
collier, was attacked by a 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 sub
merged and the Marlborough passed
over her, dropping depth bombs. The
submarine reappeared, standing al
most on end. Five rounds were fired
into her at nearly point-blank range,
and she went to the bottom of the
sea.
Sunk by Gunlre. 81
Prior to that action the Farnborough
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-6. and in the following February,
1917, his. vessel was torpedoed by a
submarine, which L eventually APP
preached so near that shot from the,
marlborough 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 ont. Destroyers lowed the Q-5s
In and beached her. For this exploit
thes Victoria Cross was awarded to-
Campbell. eysz /.
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 50 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.
ful action.
SGhnA nnasW RannAA