Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-05-02
CHAPTER II
Fake NorweQians

rake NOrWeglans
1t was In gay cafe In Hamburg.
In 1916, war times were growing hard
In Germany, hui still the cafes were
astir With lite and gaety. A naval
officer on shore leave could soon find
surroundings that would enable him,
to forgei the harsh life on dread
naught and cruiser. My friend DaI
stroem and |, over glasses of Swedish
punch. chafted for an hour and then
another hour.
An orderly wedged his way through
the crowd and handed me a message.
1t was from the admiralty. ordering
me to report al Imperial headquarters
on the morrow.
The following morning found me In
Berlin. entering the naval holy OF
holles standing expectantly at atten.
tion before an old German sea lord
with face as stern as the cliffs at
Hellgoland The orders | had come
to hear were barked at me quick and
short
You are to take command of n yes
sell" said the admiral. I'VE want you
TO run the blockade and raid enemy
commerce. Since we have no coaIng
stations, sailing ship will be the best
DO you think you can do lt3'
Eyes. sir I'd like nothing hettera
Good health and high spirits had
given me boundless confidence. was
the sort OF fellow vito believes he can
do almost anythlng-at any rate, any.
thing with sailing ship The adj
mine. And It turned out that | had
been picked for this venture because |
happened to be the only officer In the
German navy who had served 'in
saIl."
What" the admiral asked, SHOULD
you consider Of the greatest impor-
lance for the venturey'
Luck" | replied
"Al right; then take the Pass of
Bamaha. She has already carried
British prisoners for US. She has been
lucky for us once. she may be lucky
for us again."
The admiralty officials had picked
the Pass of Balnaha because she was
n stannch ship, an American clipper.
built In Glasgow. They had also
picked her because she had suddenly
arrived in German port with an un.
expected present of some British pris-
oners for u.s. We sailors believe In
good and bad omens, and we are right.
Now, about the past record of this
Yankee clipper that was TO be convert
ed into German raider The Pass
% Balmaha had Sailed from New York
with cargo of cotton for Archange
Her commander was a Captain Scott.
well-known American shipmaster, a
lghearted. bushy-bearded New Eng
land skipper with a very red face.
OF the Norwegian coast, a British
cruiser hailed her. Uncle Sam was
then a neutral, and the blockade was
getting tighter every month. The
British were becoming suspicious of
everybody, including neutras and
themselves. The overcautous com
mander of this cruiser, although he
had no grounds for suspicion. ordered
the Pass Of Balmaha to turn back to
the search port of kirkwall In the
Orkneys.
Leaving an officer and prize crew OF
six marines on board, with her fun
nels belching columns of black smoke
the British patrol cruiser continued
on her North Sen beat. As soon. as
the Pass of Balmaha had turned her
nose toward Kirkwall und Scape Flow.
the British prize officer ordered the
American flag pulled down and the
British flag run up.
Il wish the Germans would come"
ragged the Yankee skipper. And the
very next morning his4wsh was grant
ed U-boat popped up to the sur
face about half mile away Captain
Scott waggled his heard In the English
mans face
SERVES yon right With the Stars
and Stripes up there, they wouldn't
bother us. Now they'll take us all TO
Germany So far as you chaps are
concerned the war is over right now
You will get cocky. will you7"
The Britisher was alarmed. lie saw
visions Of himself locked In Prussian
prison for 1.-THE duration" So he
climbed down from his high horse In