The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-01-25

was 1ndiStlnguiShab bic from the most |
harmless merchantmen. The clever
ness with which the allied officers took
advantage of the vicious practices of
the submarine commanders bewildered
them and still further. Nothing afloat
was sacred to tbs. - lsiauau,,a.nd he seemed
w 7effSega rsfqpfeff7efr~ pride in destroy
ing small vessels, even little sailing
vessels. The navy decided to turn this
amiable trait to good account, and /
fitted out the Prize, a topsail schooner :
of 200 tons, and placed her under the /
command of Lieutenant William San /
ders, r. n. r. This little schooner as /
was expected, proved an irresistible
bait A certain submarine, command |
ed by one of the most experienced U |
boat captains, attacked her by gun
fire from a safe distance, and after her
panic party had left shelled her until
was she in a sinking condition; many
of her crew had been killed and
wounded, when, confident that she
could not be Q-ship, the enemy
came within less than 100 yards and
was promptly sent to the bottom. The
| panic party picked up the German
captain and two men, the only sur
vivors, who expressed their high adj
miration for the bravery of the crew
and assisted them TO get their bat
tered craft into port. The captain
said to Lieutenant Sanders: Il take
off my hat to you and your men. l
would not have believed that any men
could stand such gun fire" For this
this pIucky little vessel was subse-
/ exploit Lieutenant Sanders was award
| ed the Victoria Cross. Unfortunately,
quentIy lost with her gallant captain
and crew.
Our Navy Wanted to Help.
So great was the desire of our
lpeople to take some part in the mys-
Itery ship campaign that 1 took steps
TO satisfy their legitimate ambition
i As the navy had fitted out no mys-
terry ships of our own, requested the
admiralty to assign one for our use
This was Immediately agreed TO and
with the approval of the navy depart
lment, the vessel was delivered ana
named the Santee. after our old sail
ling man-of-war of that name. We
called for volunteers. and practically
Ian the officers and men of the forces
. based on Queenstown clamored for
this highly interesting though haz-
lardous service. Commander David c.
? IIanrahan was assigned as her COM
, lmander. and two specially selected
linen were taken from each of our yes
sells. thus forming an exceedingly
: lcapabIe crew. The ship was dis
: guished with great skill and, with the
+ Invaluable advice OF Captain Camp
: hell. the crew was thoroughly trained
! in ali the fine points of the game.
2 About the "Santee."
one December evening, the Santee
r lsailed from Queenstown for Bantry
! BAY to carry out intensive training
q A short time after she left port she
d was struck by a torpedo which caused
: great damage. but so solidly was hel
8 hull packed with wood that she re
i NAMED afloat The panic party got
' off in most approved style, and fol
r several hours the Santee awaited de-
7 velopments, hoping for a glimpse o.
9 the submarine But the under watel
+ boat never disclosed its presence; no
: leyen the tip of a periscope showed
itself; and the Santee was towed bacl
: Ito Queenstown
r The Santee's experience was that o
Imany mystery ships in 1918. The Ger
mans had learned their lesson.
For this reason it is desirable Z
repeat and emphasize that the mos
v important accomplishment of tn
f mystery ships was really not the &C
n tual sinking of submarines, but thei
II profound influence upon the tactic
n of the U-boats. 1t was manifest i