Imperial Valley press., 1937-03-28


heavy smoke screen was laio
down before our feet and the
ancient Campus fired a shot al
six-mile range. We could guess
that Won Spec gave a great laugh,
knowing that the old ship was
still in harbor mud. What had be
to fear?
Out went the Glasgow and
Kent; moments later the Inferible
and Inpincible, two of Britain S
newest cruisers dashing out
through our smoke screen. Fore
and aft turrets cleared for action.
Guns unlimbered. The Vice Ad-
mirars flag flew at the halyard
a white ensign. Did Won Spec
stop laughing? He had come in
too close, and had nothing left to
do but fight His two armored
cruisers, the ShdrnhOSt and
GneiSendn armed with eight
and-a-half-inch guns against our
l2-inch-his three light cruisers,
Nurnburg, Dresden and Leipzig,
each with four-and-a -half-inch
guns-his light cruisers and
transports dividing. trying to
break clear of us.
All of this looked like a feet
regatta. The Inuincible and Tnfer-
ible steamed parallel to Won Spec
=. just out of the Germans ef-
fective gun range. We had him.
Our ships could reach him. and
Won Spec was almost helpless. We
were ready for the kill By l
o'clock we had enjoyed lunch, and
opened fire with 12-inch guns at
$4,000 yards about ten miles.
Speed was increased, as we drew
away to 26,000 yards, and ham,
mered away. The MUincible was
leading the parade, and drew
most of the concentrated fire. A
German shell wrecked our ward
room. another struck the paymas.
ter's safe both without casu-
alties. Firing kept up until
o'clock, when the Schdrnhorst
sank with all hands The Gneise-
nan steamed through the wreck
age unable to give help. At a range
of six or seven miles she was bat
tered to pieces, broke into flames,
rolled over and pitched to the bot
tom. The CarnaUon stood by and
rescued about 100 men.
Part of our feet not engaged
IN this action sank two light cruis-
ers-NurnbuTg and Leipzig Won
Specs squadron was a total loss.
transports, colliers, all were de-
stroyed except the Dresden. The
score was evened. the Monmouth
avenged.
Today all of those ships are al
the bottom. The clean new Tnutn-
chile and Inferible are gone. Off
the Dogger Banks lies the InUin-
chile. The InfeGible was later
mined in the Dardanelles. At
Falkland Islands the good joss of
the Navy watched over US
we had a fine day. perfect visi-
bility, In a part of the world
boasting only a dozen good days
year.
Our feet was partly reassigneo
during the trip home The Invin-
chile chased a German raider and
U-boats. and came back through
what Germany had since our de-
parture declared a war zone for
merchantmen. The narrow sea"
was alive with big and small
ships Trawlers worked day and
night. The Admiralty turned gray
In these months, wondering how
many more tons Of food supplies
German subs would sink
Both Inptncible and Infertble
were ordered re-outftted, and
duty ahead was somewhat blank
but there was balm In the
heavens. AS a senior "snottie" or
Junior officer. I was relegated to
a trawler and was given my
first command.
My ship was the Tarqnin, a
small re-converted sea tug, requi-
sitioned from commercial jobs
We made minor alterations. put
on a four-pound gun forward
and Y gun aft. She was light
Of draft. lively on the tiller. with
a crew OF nine-including all
hands. cook and Owner"
1t was better. ! knew, to COM
mand a small. dirty little tub If
only for a duration. temporary"
than never to command at ALL No