BEATING THE PIRATE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 263, 26 July 1918, Page 5

BEATING THE PIRATE

MERCHANTMEN AND THEIR SKILFUL GUNNERY INTERESTING ACCOUNTS Tho submarine which attacks a defensively armed merchantman nowadays by no means count on "bagging" his prize. There have been cases in which two U-boats that have unsuccessfully set upon a single steamer havo been foiled by tho splendid tactics of the master, backed by his. crew. Instances are also available in, which the steamer has completely turned the tables on the pirate, who has been sent to the bottom instead. A striking testimony to the bravery of our merchant seamon is the fact that sixtyfour of our vessels attacked between March 15, 1918, and April 15. 1918, escaped from the sea murderers. Not all that so escaped were steamers, which are more easily handled than "wind-jammers." For instance, tho day a sailing ship was proceeding leisurely on her course when the lookout sighted a submarine on the starboard Quarter. She lay "doggo" until the U-boat came withiu range, and then opened fire. The gun-crew knew their business, for they soon found the target, and out of thirteen shots eight direct hits were scored. Suddenly tho U-boat, which had been vainly twi6tuig and turning to get out of range, went down by the bow, and her stern stood clear of the wafer for nearly half a minute. Then she dived perpendicularly, but came to Hie surface n<*ain stern up at an angle of Hfldeg. For a short space slio remained in this position, and finally disappeared like a stone, to be seen no more.

Thanks to the "Black Squad." Early one' afternoon the master of a steamer in ballast saw tho traco of a torpedo coming direct for his ship, and succeeded in avoiding it. Then a U-boat opened fire, many of tho shells falling close to the steamer, whilo one pierced Ihc deck, and, passing through the boatswain's and carpenter's quarters, without injuring two of the crew who were there, finally exploded in the second cook's quarters, which were completely wrecked. Tho encounter continued for four hours, tho Germans trying reticatedly to get on the port side: hut the master checkmated every movement, and' kept the U-boat dead astern. Tho "black squad" liolow were working nobly. Not having been dry-docked for some time, tho ship could in normal conditions only steam about eleven knots, but, whilo tho guncrews were keening oft the pirates, tlm engineers and firemen managed to get another 2J knots out of the engines, and this extra turn of speed assisted in keeping up the British end. When tho sun began to ret tho pirate manoeuvred to get in behind him, and here. too. the British skipper proved to bo tho betler seaman. A shot from tho steamer struck the suhmarino amidships, but did not do sufficient injury to force Iho German to discontinue tho action. However, the steamer held on, and eventually a shell appeared to hurst on the submarine's how, whereupon the enemy turned about and left the steamer. With the escep. won of ono shot the British vessel suffered no injury. Just nfter daybreak a "tramp" sighted a submanne three miles away to port hurrying in her direction. Suddenly tho enemy opened fire, but without any success owing to tho effective zig-zaggiug of the steamer. As the fire became hotter tho steamer was brought round until the enemy was well astern, and then tho British gun crew took a hand, their shots falling all round the submarine, rho master then ordered a smoke scrcen to be thrown.up, and after the exchange ot n few mere shots the German dived. Within a very few minutes a second submarine broke tho surface on the starboard quarter, a larger boat than the first, and at least 300 feet in length, ' with guns fore and aft. The state of the wind rendered the smoke screen of no avail against the newcomer, so tho steamer opened firo and' a brisk 'duel ensued. Shrapnel fell on tho steamer's decks. For half an hour the fight continued, and then a British shell covered the German with spray. The submarine dived, but only just in time, for, attracted by tho gunfire, two British patrol boats put in an appearance.

Wireless Repaired Under Fire,

In another attack which was successfully beaten off tho fight took place in tho moonlight. Moreover, every time a round was "fired the gun kicked and tho platform jumped. The man who was (lighting had his eyes blackened and face badly cut. Notwithstanding this the guncrew pluckily replied to the submarine's fire, and eventually forced him to abandon tho action. A shot from the submarine early broke the wireless aerials, but in spite'of the enemy's fire the boatsvraiii and the wirylcss telegraph operator repaired the breakage. On a light, night there was a torpedo attack on a slow-going merchantman. The first torpedo passed n few feet astern, and then a second went across the bows, and tho submarine appeared on the port beam. Tho enemy's action d'd not alarm the master, however. As a matter of fact a friend of his had been a prisonerof war in Germany for many months, an.,l the things he had told on his return made the master feel particularly anxious to sink a U-boat, ife therefore deliberately stopped Irs ship, giving order? to the gunne.-s to fire us soon as the enemy presented a goal target. The gunners ob-yii. They fired three rounds, tli" first jToiT,<r over, but the second and third were both good liits. I The submal"'"s at once went down, and was not seen

T'.rso are a few of the miny instances which prove that the U-lrat is not having things ill its own way.