Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-09-11
sitting incident in the Life Of a
Raider Patrol Of British
Navy.
MIXING Of the TURR|TElLA
mans Nearly Fooled the English but
ere Betrayed When They Spelled
\den With a "T"--Dcstr6yed
the Vessel Themselves.

athcr prosaic lives Of the men who
,lled the seas aud kept the ocean
lanes open for allied shipping.
hangers that lurked in the Arabian
and Indian ocean have been
n In general way from the too
uent admiralty reports Of ships
there by submarines and raiders.
is told by II correspondent of the
idon Times, as follows:
1t the beginning OF March. 1917, l
in II. NJ. 5. ---- on the Alden
rol---a duh job, rs all patrolling
are. But we did not pretend to
pining for the more thrilling Occu.
ton of searching for the German
alder Wolf. Her guns could outranse
re guns of our little ship, so cffectual.
that, had we met her, we should
obabiy have been blown out of the
led before we could PIT a shot any
where near her, and, frankly, we had
nc great desire to meet her.
About 10 o'clock one evening sig
altman appeared Mt the wardroom
',r with message from the bridge,
1rom the officer of the watch. sir.
tip on the starboard bow showing no
ights
"Probably an old tramp scared out
his wits by these yarns about the
Volt" suggested someone.
"All these merchantmen are going
,out without lights nowadays"
The captain and the navigator went
to the bridge, where they were
-esently Joined by the first lieutenant.
ne moon was nearly full, casting Il
,ite track across the dark blue car
of the sea. 1t was the kind Of
at that brings back memories of Il
tmes regatta of lounging in we'll
hioned punt, and listening to a good
I'd. To connect such n night with
rnan raiders, guns, mines and tor
'oes was quite impossible; the whole
ing was entirely wrong.
he mysterious ship was nov two
hts on our port bow. ana about
&c miles ahead A thick volume OF
,oke pouring from her funnel sug-
,sted that she was in II hurry, or. ut
events, was not disposed to be so
able with us. We had been ambline
cong comfortably ut eight knots; the
rider was given to increase to ten.
I'VE shutter of our signal lamp began
cattle.
what ship Is that?"
Claimed British Registry.
The sgnalman had to repeat the
uuestiOn twice before he evoked an
answers
"Toritella," was the bclated reply.
What nationality" we asked
omptly.
British" was the answer.
what are your signal letcrs?" was
r next question.
J. +. X. L." came the answer.
We hunted up the name in Lloyds
t., but without success.
Are you sure you have got his
g right, signalmanf' Ask him
n"
What is your naMe?" asked the
ont signalman. tbs time the pys'
,us stranger expanded volubly.
Turritclla, London, Runs for Brit.
admiralty, Port Said for orders"
hat manner of ship was this, who
led her name at one time with an
nd one Il. and at another time with
and two RS? And that express
!. "Runs for British admiralty
lid an English merchant skipper
about the British admiralty.
I'D he not say, "Under admiralty
ter" or some such phrase!
ae signal lamp OF the unknown
el began to sclntilate again.,
Who are youi" ran the simple
sage.
here was certainly a directness
ut the question suggesting q blum
English skipper
4 British man-of-war,' was oul
,er. A little later we followed II
peremptory order to the stran
o stop. When the signal LAM
TO flicker again, it seemed tt
lust trifle of hesitation.
Night Of Suspense.
meaning was plain enough. W.
have ordered him to stop whei
rst sighted him, when we were
,,r range of the shore batteries
and where there were British men-of
war lying just Vund the corner insla'
the harbor. He evidently suspected IL
of being the German raider. All ines
merchantmen were in d state OF higl
nervous tension. The mere fact OF De
ing ordered to stop was enough Z
make him run as hard as he could. !
was clear that we could not overhau
him. The only question was, had w
sufficient grounds of suspicion 10 Jus
tlfy us Ia taking steps to conlpei mr.
to stop? No one cares to 60 10 III
length of firing on strange merchah'
man in the middle of the night unleS
there are grave reasons for doing 81
And If this fellow was not BIRTHS
merchantmnn. as he protested, VIVA
else could he be? He might be tn