White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1929-05-24

tra-modern 500 horse power motors to
fall back on In case of calm or when
in big hurry, a tank holding $50 tons
of fuel oil, another tank containing $50
tons of sweet water, and provisions
for a cruise Of two years.
In addition to 400 hunks for pros
pective guests" had special de luxe
quarters made for Visiting" captains
and mates. These were spacious cab
ms to accommodate two or three. We
also designed separate dining sa-
loon for them, with an assortment Of
books and magazines In French and
English, and gramophone with late
English and French records
Then, of course, we had to arrange
quarters for my crew Of fighting ma
rines as we'll as. for the regular sea.
men required on clipper of this size.
Moreover, we had to do all this So It
would not be noticeable to unlimited
visitors.
When the work was done, below
deck, the Pass of Balmaha was an
auxiliary cruiser, armed to the teeth.
Above deck she was merely poetic
old sailing ship loaded with a prosaic
cargo of lumber.
Timber made the ideal cargo for our
purposes, because ship carrying lum-
Der loads her deck as we'll as her hold.
The piles of lumber even cover your
matches, so no one can 60 below until
you unload. Hence no search crew
would be likely to inspect us carefully
at sea. They would either order us to
Kirkwall, or let US go.
Norway exports lumber and Aus
tralia imports it. So we decided to
pose as Norwegian clipper bound
for Melbourne. Having served on va.
rious Norwegian ships, l spoke Morse,
and knew would have no difficulty
finding men for my crew who could
speak 1t also. But first had secret
doors and matches cut in the floor of
the closets in the officers cabins, and
another under the stove in the galley.
From keel to top deck we converted
this American three-master into a
mystery ship Of trick panels and DOORS
OF course. If an enemy patrol vessel
picked US up, a special prize crew Of
half dozen men would be put aboard
us to make sure we headed for the
right port. would have sixty-four
men of my own to handle the small
prize crew.
tr0n N,rll
say to the Britishers: Gentlemen,
may you dine WE'LL"
"Cookie," l would call, serve up the
best we've got"
On their way to my private captains
quarters, they would leave their coats
and weapons in the vestbule, within
sight and just out Of reach.
Right in the middle of the meal, l
would signal to my fighting men hid
den on the lower deck. Selling their
rifles they would jump to their ap.
pointed places. At another signal, the
crew above deck would Chamber up
the iron masts, open small secret
doors, reach down into the hollow
chambers where their arms and uni
forms were hidden, and moment la.
ter German jack-tars would appear
where humble Norwegian sailors had
been a moment before. We would not
attempt to recapture our own ship
dressed in civilian toys.
Although the floor of my saloon
where the prize crew would be dining
looked like any other floor, It was in
reality an elevator! All had to do
was press a secret button hidden be-
hind the barometer in the chart room:
Prestol down would drop floor, prize
crew and all.
Before man Jack could Jump fcl
a weapon they would find themselves
dining on the next deck below. With
the difference that they now would be
gazing down the barrels of twenty
German rifles.
Then l would step forward, throw
open my great-coat, and present my.
self as the skipper of windjammer
suddenly metamorphosed into the COM
mander of an auxiliary cruiser.
And now. by Joe, suppose British
cruiser seized US and then we seized
the British prize crew. Then suppos-
ing another cruiser should pick US upl
We might have to do bit of fighting.
maybe take to the boats with our pris.
oners and then sink our own ship.
So we prepared for this by placing
bombs where they could be touched
off at moments notice. We had
no intention of letting our raider fall
into enemy hands.
felt that IT was so important to
keep all of our plans secret that ]
even fooled the workmen who were
altering the ship. Had they known
what we were up to, the rumor might
have gotten out. There were spies
everywhere. You must admire the
British. They had great espionage
system. and they paid their spies well.
We Germans were stingy. Bah That
was one reason we hungled.
So told everyone, including the
foremen. that the Pass Of Balmaha
was being transformed into an up-to-
date training ship. to be used in train
ing mechanics apprentices who later
IN we're to run motors on submarines
and zeppelns.
That alibi was to explain our two
motors. The war had shown that
German cabin boys were deficient in
knowledge of nautical rigging. So
also announced that one purpose of
this sailing ship was to give them a
chance to learn little about handling
sails AZ to the accommodations In