SUBMARINE WARFARE

Grey River Argus, 31 October 1916, Page 3

SUBMARINE WARFARE

THE WEEK'S SINKINGS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) • LONDON, October 20.. The sinkings during the week-end 1 were six Norwegian steamers, one tfel j gian, one Swedish,- one Danish, two British, and three Danish sailers and two British. • GREEK STEAMERS SUNK. LONDON, October 29. At the inquest at Plymouth on five of the crew of the Greek steamer George Embericos it was stated that the captain , told the submarine commander that he had a Belgian relict cargo, but the commander, ordered the' crew into the boats and sank the steamer. ■ NEWFOUNDLANDERS TAKE PRE CAUTIONS ST. JOHNS (Newfoundland'). October 29. Owing to the possibility of submarr incs the city is ordered to be in dark, ness at night and shipping is suspended at nightfall. SINKING OF BRITISH MERCHANTMEN. BRAVE SAILORS. Enemy submarines are fairly active, writes Lieut. Reg. Baigent, who was recently transferred from the Flying Corps to the Navy, to Mr H. Baigent, of Nelson. The other' day we took the crews of two British steamers from a Norwegian ship^.who had picked them up, both vessels having been captured and blown up with very little.- warning, and the crews left to firsh for themselves in open boats. They fired on the first ship without warning, using shrapnel. One poor beggar got his arm badly smashed, but they are the true British merchant seamen^ quite cheerful, and face every danger at. sea without as much as a revolver* for selfdefence. The Hun followed, his usjial procedure; fired a shot, told ■ tfiein tfiey had five minutes to get clear *ot". the ship. Ho went on board himself, plun-. deredr any thing of ; value, and then blew the ship up. One skipper told us a story which show g that phlegmatic attitude of our merchant seamen- towards them. One of his firemen was stand, ing on the deck of the submarine with several other members of the crow," watching their ship sink, when this chap, grimy with coal dust and wondering what his fate was going to be, turned out his pockets and found a pipe. Turning to the submarine com irtawicr, ho saiu: "Got a match, guvnor?" The submarine commander fumed and said: "You d fool; do you know where you are >} The fire man, quite unabashed, remarked, 'Orlrite; can't a bloke 'avc a smoke?"