HEROES OF THE E13

Grey River Argus, 29 October 1915, Page 2

HEROES OF THE El 3

"BRAVE MIEN, THESE ENGLISH"

The story of the death of many of :re\v of the submarine El 3, • -whicii t will be remembered was attacked in Danish waters wLeu it iiad run iground, and the crew of which avus )uly saved from anuihiliation by a Dan sh torpedo boat steaming in between ;be attacker and the submarine, has jeen reinforced by the account of an ?ye-witness ,an old fishermau, and his story told in simple words reveals a leed of heroism as stirring as any in British naval history. "We passed the E13," he said, "on Thursday morning in our boats, and could easily have taken all the crew on beard and brought them ashore, by.l they politely declined our proffered assistance. A little later in the forenoon we sow the German torpedo boats ap. proach and we began to think matters lcoked serious. . ' "The British had launched their boats, but suddenly wo -card sharp words of command an dthe sound <.f whistles, f.nd the five men who had got into the boats immediately scrambled back on the E13.. The vesesl was lifting slightly. P saw the crew quietly resuming their places on deck, and some of them coolly began playing cards and other games, "I particularly noticed two you 11 g sailors playing chess, and a third standing by smoking, while at short intervals he bent down ov«;r the chessboard indicating how the last move ought, to have beon made, amid good-natured chaiF. Meanwhile the German torpedo boats were drawing closer, but none took the slightest notice. "Suddenly we saw a torpedo rush through the water, miss and explode in the sand bottom. Again we heard that sLort, sharp word of command, and immediately all the men got up and 1 ormed into lino on deck, crossed arms facing the cneui3''s guns. immov_ ciblc as statues,- and looking death ia the f'icc without moving a muscle. " Tlujy were brave men, these English." * ■