Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1919-09-18
BOCHE SHIPPERS POOR
SPELLING HIS UNDOING

/ O and one r, and al another time Win
U and two RS? And that express
sion. runs for British admiralty
Would an English merchant skipper
talk about the British admiralty.
Would he not say, "Under admiralty
charter" or some such phrasef
The signal lamp of the unknown
vessel began TO sclntillate again.
"Who are you?" ran the simple
message
There was certainly a directness
about the question suggesting a bluff
old English skipper.
~ British man-Of-war," was our
answer. A little later we followed 1t
up by a peremptory order TO the stran-
ger to stop. When the signal lamp
began TO flicker again, it seemed to
show just q trifle of hesitation.
Night of Suspense.
His meaning was plain enough. We
could have ordered him to stop when
we first sighted him, when we were
within range of the shore batteries,
and where there were British men-of-
war lying just round tho corner inside
the harbor. He evidently suspected us
of being the German raider. All these
merchantmen We're in state OF high
nervous tension. The mere fact of be-
ing ordered to stop was enough to
make him run as hard as he could. 1t
was clear that we could not overhaul
him. The only question was, had we
sufficient grounds of suspicion to JUS
tify us In taking steps to compel MIN
to stop? No one cares to go to the
length of firing on a strange merchant
man in the middle of the night unless
there are grave reasons for doing so.
And if this fellow was not British
merchantmen, as he profesSed, what
else could he be? He might be the
Wolf? 1t was at least possibility. In
that case the prospect of an engage
ment opened up visions of a glorious
death, but little else.
Wireless messages were sent TO the
other ships of the patrol, stating the
circumstances and the position, course
and speed. The first watch was over.
The officer who had been relieved had
dropped into the wardrOom for
cigaret before turning In. AS he lighted
I'D he remarked: Il should like to get
hold of that old merchant skipper and
give him a piece of my mind"
THE question:" observed one of the
pensive members of the mess us
whether he would understand your
language. They are not all good lin
gusts"
1t was an observation which clearly
needed simplifying.
IF you were an English skipper I'M
der the impression that you were be-
ing chased by German raider, would
you expect him to go on chasing you
for two hours without firing?
The officer just relieved from the
bridge became meditative.
Spelled Alden with "T."
'There was something funny" he
said "even about that last signal ask
ing US why we did not stop him at
Alden. The signalman tells me that he
first spelled Alden with t. and then
corrected r."
Even the technicalities of flag
wager may be fraught with impor-
lance. When a messenger came down
from the bridge to say that the ship
on the port bow seemed to be drawing
away from us, the captain sent back a
message to the officer of the watch to
put on the best speed he could. The
little ship began to throb with her ex-
ertions, while her funnel grew red-hOt.
Just before the morning watch the
moon went down, and darkness fell
upon the face of the water. 1t was
evident that we had gained very little,
if at all, on the stranger. The captain,
leaning over the bridge rail, sang out
for the signalman.
Make If you do not stop l shall
fire."
"Ay, ay, sir"
a. "