EXCITING FIGHT

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 108, 8 May 1916, Page 5

EXCITING FIGHT

SUBMARINE AND TORPEDOBOAT. The following- account of a recent exciting fight between a Kussian torpedoboat and an enemy submarine in the Blackf Sea is furnished from a semiofficial source, says the Liverpool Journal of Commerce :— "During our last voyage of investigation along the Anatolian shore we had a thrilling encounter with a submarine, and as the whole affair occurred during the time I was on watch, I am able to tell the story in detail. It was broad day, and there was a cloudless sky The cursed north-easter, which had tortured us throughout the winter, had abated, and there was a complete calm. Our (;orpedo-boat was rounding one of the ■capes which are so convenient for submarine attacks. At this point the coastline is rugged and the scenery majestic. A- short distance away was a small bay, where a submarine might conveniently, store benzine and provisions. Just as we were rounding the capo our lookout man saw, right in front of the torpedo-boat, at a spot where the water shone bright in the sun's rays, signs that some large object was moving just below the surface of the -water. . A few minutes later a slight ripple appear ed, and then two slight funnels showed above the surface of the water —obviously the'periscopes of a submarine I gave the alarm, and immediately scores of electric bells sounded in every pant of our vessel, .informing the crew of the coming fight. The sailors hurried from their quarters to take their appointed positions, n.nd in another minute every man was ready for action. After a lapse of: twenty seconds the periscope of the submarine disappeared before we had time to fire a single shot. 'Helm a-port' was promptly ordered by the commander. Then followed an anxious moment, during which the vessel turned to face the torpedo, until we offered the smallest possible mark. A moment later the torpedo passed alongside, leaving a foaming track behind. Wo were travelling at full speed straight to the spot ■where the submarine's periscope had been sighted, when the signalman reported that the submarine was now on our left. Again the periscope appeared, and it was seen that the submarine was moving on a course parallel to our own. We at once shaped our course straight for the submarine, a.nd our guns_ opened fire. At ithis time we were within three or four cable lengths of the submarine, and the first shells we fired fell close to the enemy, raising high columns o£ water. The submarine hurriedly submerged again, and we ceased five. Our boat was rushed full speed over the spot where the submarine disappeared in the hope of ramming her. Everybody expected a shock, and I was in readiness to give the order to reverse the engines ; but no collision took place, and it was clear that we had passed above the submarine. For the third time the submarine rose to the surface, this time on our port side, and we opened a running fire on it. A torpedo passed behind us, and I saw it moving in a peculiar zigzag fashion a very short distance away I —the. r.ppavatus for directing its course had evidently been damaged, and instead !of coming in a straight line it was shap- ! ing all kinds of courses. When it ! arrived in the wake of our propeller it turned and went wide. In the meantime our gunners were making good practice at the enemy vessel, the perioscopes of which were plainly visible, and one of our shells caused a big explosion. We saw some fragments of some materials flying in" the air. The periscopes disappeared, and on going nearer wo saw bubbles rising to the surface and a thick film of oil on the water, clear proofs that we had succeeded in destroying the submarine."