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

We altered that British-buIlt Yankee
| clipper from stem TO stern. with con-
| cealed places for our guns, rifles. gren-
ades, bombs. and other armament, with
special quarters for prisoners. two ul-
tra-modern 500 horse power motors TO
fall back on In case of calm or when
| In big hurry tank holding $50 tons
CT fuel oil. another tank containing 4SO
tons of sweet water, and provisions
for cruise Of two years.
In addition TO 400 hunks for pros
peetive quests" had special de luxe
quarters made for visiting" captains
and mates. These were spacious cab
ins 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 a gramophone with late
English and French records.
Then, OF course. we had TO arrange
quarters for my crew IT lighting ma
rines as well as for the regular sea
men required on cilnpersof this size.
Moreover, we hud to do all this 81 II
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 prosaic
cargo of lumber.
Timber made the ideal cargo for ,ur
purposes. because ship carrying ium-
Der loads her deck as well as her hold.
The plies of humber even cover your
matches, so no one can go 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.
tralfa Imports It. So We decided to
pose as a Norwegian clipper bound
for Melbourne. Having served on va
rlous Norwegian ships. | spoke Morse,
and knew | would have no difficulty
finding men for my crew who could
speak II 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.
FTnm keel to top deck we converted
this American three-master into a
mystery ship Of trick panels and doors.
OF course, II an enemy patrol vessel
picked US up. special prize crew OF
half dozen men would be put aboard
us to make sure we headed for the
right port. would have sixty-fou
men Of my own to handle the small
prize crew.
Dinner time would come. would
say to the Britishers: Gentlemen,
may You dine wellv
Cookie" | 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 vestihule, within
sight and Just out of reach.
Right In the middle of the menl.
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
Grew above deck would Chamber ND
the Iron masts. open small secret
doors reach down into the hollow
chambers where their arms and uni.
forms were hidden, and moment In
ter German jack-tars would appear
where humble Norwegian sailors hadS
been moment before. We would not
attempt to recapture our own ship
dressed n 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 secret button hidden be-
bind the barometer In the chart room.
Prestol down would drop floor, prize
crew and all.
Before n man Jack could jump for
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 would step forward, throw
open my great-coat. and present N.Y.
self as the skipper OF a windjammer
suddenly metamorphosed into the com
mander Of an auxiliary cruiser.
And now. by Joe, suppose a British
cruiser seized us and then we seized
the British prize crew. Then snppos-
Ing another cruiser should pick us up |
We might hnve 10 do a biz of fighting,
maybe take TO the boats With oar 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 II 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
fave gotten out There were spies
everywhere. You must admire the
British. They had a great espionage
system. and they paid their spies we'll.
We Germans were stingy. Bah That
was one reason we hungied