FIGHT WITH SUBMARINE

Evening Star, Issue 16626, 8 January 1918, Page 5

FIGHT WITH SUBMARINE

AMERICAN SHIP’S ESCAPE. • DESTROYER TO THE RESCUE. Escaping from a German submarine after a bitter fight lasting nearly four hours; and with seven of her crew wounded, two of them seriously, an American steamer recently arrived at a French seaport. The timely intervention of an American destroyer alone saved the ship from being sent to the bottom. A few hours after the vessel had entered the danger zone a lookout sighted a submarine, on the port bow, but before he had _ time to renort its presence the submarine fired a shot which missed the stern of the ship by but a few yards. The, captain immediately -sent out a wireless call for assistance, as the position of the submarine was such that escape was nearly impossible. The gim crews of the submarine and -tfio steamer then began to exchange shots. The chief gunner of the steamer opened fire at a range of 9,oooyds, but all the shots fell short. The submarine kept manoeuvring to keep out of range of the steamer’s guns, at the same time maintaining a running fire in an effort to disable them. The merchant ship, after altering her course, started full speed in an attempt to escape. The stubbornness of the battle is indicated by the fact that the submarine fired 204 shots at the steamer, which responded with more than 260 shots! After the fight had continued for about two hours, and several shots had struck the ship, wounding four men, one shell hit the vessel and exploded in the erKniie room, putting the engines out of commission and rendering the ship helpless. The German commander then approached nearer, and the submarine continued to t am shells upon the disabled craft. The sea was running high at the time, and there seemed little hope of sayiiig the ship when a low streak of black smoke was sighted on the horizon. It later proved to bo an American torpedo-boat destroyer coming at full speed, running right into the sea_, and at times nearly disappearing from view. The destroyer had heard the calls tor aid sent nut by the steamer, and travelled at a speed of as high as 30 knots to conic to her assistance. The destrover immediately made for the submarine, which dived and disappeared beneath the surface. Em American warship circled about the spot, dropping a few depth charges, but no more signs of the submarine were seen. Tho wireless apparatus of the steamer however, had been disabled soon alter the fight began, and the messages "T 0 * 0 received, so that the arrival ot tho American destroyer was quite unexpected. The submarine, apparently was aware of tho destroyer’s presence, because she siibmerged before the destrover could get within range. A doctor and two assistants boarded the merchantmen and .attended to the wounded. The engineers had great difficulty in repairing the steamers engine, and during the night the destroyer and the merchantman lost each other, but finally the steamer made port in safety.