The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-01-18

would explode. probably killing or
frightfully wounding every one of the
men who were stationed there. If he
should wait until the U-boat made the
tour Of the ship and reached the side
which was free of smoke. the chances
We're that this explosion would take
place before gun could be fired. On
the other hand, if he should fire
through the smoke, there was little
likelihood of hitting the submarine.
Sink the Enemy Their Watchword.
Those who are acquainted with the
practical philosophy which directed
operations in this war VIII readily
lforesee the choice which was now
made. The business of mystery ships,
as Of all submarine craft, was TO
sink the enemy. All other considera-
tions amounted to nothing when this
, supreme object was involved. The
lives of officers and men, precious as
they were under ordinary circum-
stances, were 20 be Immediately sacri-
feed if such a sacrifice would. give
an opportunity of destroying the sub
marine. 1t was. therefore. Captain
Campbell's duty 10 wait for the under
water boat 10 sail slowly around his
ship and appear in clear view on the
starboard side, leaving his brave men
at the stern exposed to the fire, every
minute raging more fiercely, and to
the likelihood of a terrific explosion.
That he was able to make this de-
cision, relying confidently upon the
spirit of his crew and their loyal de-
votion to their leader. again illustrates
the iron discipline which was main
tanned on the mystery ships The first
explosion had destroyed the voice tube
by means Of which Captain Campbell
communicated with his gun crew He
therefore had TO make his decision
without keeping his men informed of
the progress of events-information
very helpful to men under such
strain; but he well knew that these
men would understand his action and
cheerfuly accept their role in the
game. Yet the agony of their position
tested their self control to the utmost
The deck on which they lay every mo-
ment became hotter; the ather of
their shoes began to smoke but they
refused to budge-for to flee to a safer
place mean revealing themselves to the
subma rine and thereby betraying their
secret. They took the boxes of cordite
shells in their arms and held them up
as high as possible above the smouId-
ering deck. in the hope of preventing
an explosion which seemed inevitable
Never did Christian martyrs stretched
upon a gridiron suffer with greater
heroism.
Unexpected Signs of Life.
It was probably some thing of a re-
lief when the expected explosion took
place. The submarine had to go only
200 yards more to be under the fire of
three guns at range Of 400 yards, but
just as it was rounding the stern the
German officers and men, standing on
the deck, were greeted with terrific
roar. Suddenly a conglomeration of
men, guns and unexpected shells were
hurled into the air. The German
|! crew, of course, had believed that the
vessel was a deserted hulk, and this
sudden manifestation of life on board
| not only tremendously startled them,
| but threw them into a panic. The
four inch gun and it's crew was brown
| high into the air the gun landing for
ward on the well deck, and the crew
| in various places. One man fell in the
water; he was picked up, not mate
rally the worse for his experience, by
! the Dunraven's lfeboat, which, all this
| time, had been drifting in the neigh
| borhood 1t is one of the miracles OF
this war that not one of the other
members of the crew was killed. The