The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-01-11
How the O. Boats
We're Run

ErF.fTTlfI
~ Captain Campbell and although the
cushing had kept far enough away
NOS 10 interfere with the action. she
had the honor of escorting the in
fJred mystery ship into port and Of
selying as a reward for her efforts
three rousing cheers from the crew of
4 fine Pargust led by the renowned Camp
hell a more villainous looking gang of
n ssamen than the crews of these ships
never sailed the waves. All men on
board were naval officers OF. enlisted
men: they were all volunteers and
comprised men &c all ranks admirals.
aap.aias commanders and miaship-
~ad tenlnorarily abandoned
His Majesty's uniform for garments
second hand clothing
stores nd made the somewhat dis
concerting discovery that carefully
trained gentlemen of the naval forces,
Wien dressed in cast-off clothing and
WHOM neglectful of their boards. differ
little in appearance from the somewhat
rough and tumble characters of the
tramp service. To assume this exter-
nal Disguise successfully meant that
ae lroiunteers had also to change al
mosf heir personal characteristics as
well as their clothes. Whereas the con
.p.rhous traits of a naval man is neat
l.ss and order, these counterfeit mer-
ca2nt sailors had to train themselves
the casual ways of tramp seamen.
They had also 10 accustom them
selves tp the conviction that a peri
scope was every moment searching
heir vessel from stem to stern. in an
nempt TO discover whether there was
anything suspicious about it; they
therefore, had not only TO dress the
par; OF merchantmen, but to act it,
even in It's minor details.
How the Crew Acted.
The, genius of Captain Campbell
consisted in the fact that he had made
minute study OF merchantmen, their
officers and their crews. and was able
10 reproduce them SO literally on his
vessel that even the expert eye was
deceived Necessarily such a ship car
.d "A larger crew than the merchant
ishtea nearly all, however We're
iapt constantly concealed, the number
prearins on deck always representing
uyt about the same number as would
formally have sailed upon a tramp
steamer These men had to train them
ses iii sIouchiness of behavior; they
would hang over the rails, and even
se merchant terms in conversation
With one another; their officers We're
masters" mates .'pursers," and the
Ike and their principal gathering place
vas not a wardroorn, but a saloon. |
That scrupulous Difference with which
subordinate officer in the navy |
relts his superior was laid aside in |
his service. It was no longer the Gus
ON TO salute before addressing the |
commander; more frequently the sailor |
would SLOUGH up to his superior, his |
hands in his pockets and his pipe in
his mouth.
This attempt to deceive the Hun OBJ |
erver at the periscope sometimes as
sumed en- even more Iudicrous form /
When the sailor of warshio dumps /
ashes overheard he does it With par
tcular care, so as not to soil he sides /
Of his immaculate vessel; hut n Iler-
hant seaman is much less considerate;
e usually chucks overheard anything
does mot want and let's the ships
de take it's chances. To have fol- \
owed llie manner Of the navy would
t once have given the game away; so
ne sailors. in carrying out this domes-
t-e duty, performed the act with all
the nonchaIance of merchant sea-
man. To have messed in naval style
would also have been betraying them
selves. The ships cook, therefore, in
white coat. would come on deck, and
nave look around. precisely as Is done
en- d freighler. Even when in port Off
GERS and men maintained their disguise.
iaeE never visited hotels or clubs or
private houses; they spent practically
s- ihetv time on board: II they occa-
Ntohal-y went ashore, their merchant 1
usAli so disguised them that even their
taS trends would not recognize them +
lon the street.
no" the Guns Were Placed.
-s WaFESe character of their ships II
n sven more cieverIy hidden. In the
~ the guns We're placed be-
-.'.' HI. Dui" aFks, which, when a lever
1S puileu' would fan down, thus Civ
Il mem an unohstructed range at the
-s''lleFlI1e- IN order 10 make the sides
uis sllps collaDsible, certain. seams
unaFoidaoly left in the plates.
ere the detachable parf ioined +be ,
--l structure. The U-boat con,r,ayd- ;
= soon learned to look for tbesa 10. h
ing seams before comins - a.
--LAce' They would sail sIIb,,arera.s /.
o-l.o the ship the periscope rnin,,+,I1r
a,-.-Is'hg the sides. more as a sciantist
mines his specimens with 7o;o,a
- ~. taIs practice made il necesssr,, /.
Tia sea- the guns Lore caref,,Il,y
III. PAGES which we're most SERVICE
rs,.. II lhls purpose We're the hateb- b
~ nose huge wells. extending from,
Il ~ r,-.le - 'Ae bottom. which are usad !
n 9rr,s ' s,- and unloading cargo. Plat Il
q rbss. 80 erected in these openings. n
as y suns We're emplaced; a cover
reg I'LL laulin completely hid them /,
1oga ..l pulled by the gun crews
cove, Use .Ae sides Of The hatchway :
= -@il iHstantaneousIy. Other :