AN HISTORIC FIGHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17274, 25 September 1919, Page 7

AN HISTORIC FIGHT.

ATTACK ON H.M.S. PRIZE, SINKING OF A SUBMARINE. GERMAN OFFICER'S ADMIRATION. The details of the fight between the decoy ship Prize, commanded by the late Lieutenant-Commander \V. E. Sanders V.C., D.5.0., and an enemy submarine on April 30, 1917, were related by Lord ■Jellicoe yesterday, on the occasion of the unveiling of the memorial to the hero at the Takapuna public school.

Lord Jellicoe said that the Prize, one of the famous decoy ships, Jeft MUford Haven, and after being at sea some days fell in with an enemy submarine late "in the afternoon of April' 30. 1917. The _.ibmarine was in sight on the surface about ten minutes before the action began. Admiral Jellicoe explained that the object of the ships of the character of the Prize, which had all the appearance of peaceful ships of trade, was to decoy a submarine close enough to ensure that when fire opened it would he effective in, sinking her immediately. A submarine he said, could submerge in half a minute, and if the first shot should miss she wou'd disappear, and probably sink her opponent) from below. In a small craft such as tie Prize it was essential that the submarine should get within 100 yds to be sure of sinking her. In this rase the submarine opened fire at a distance of a mile and a-half, and action was taken with, every I appearance of haste to abandon the Prize I to give the idea that she was a harmless merchant vessel. The " panic crew" of six men accordingly left the ship, and the submarine continued her shelling The ; Prize was hit time after time, but no sign came from those left on board. The wireless room was wrecked and the operator badly injured, the mainmast was shot through and the deckhouse blown away Maintaining magnificent discipline under the influence of their gallant leader, said Admiral Jellicoe, the crew remained quiet despite the infernal shelling. This went on until the submarine was about. 80vds away, when Lieut.-Commander Sanders gave the order ■'Action." The screens over the guns were thrown down and the Prize opened fire, although many of th* crew had been badly wounded. The first shot blew the submarine's gun overboard, and a few shots later the conning tower collapsed taking with it the. commander ofthe S ubma u The Prize fired about M shots at the submarine, which was now afire and had the appearance of being in a badly sinking condition It was now getting dark - said Admiral Jellicoe, and the Prize's only boat was got out and a search made for survivors he captain, his navigating officer, and one ;„„ er man were picked up, and as the captain was convinced his vessel had .sunk efforts were made to save the Prize which was making water rapidly The leaks were stopped, but it w M only by th« n 6^ lo ' ll and Skilful management on thaf?£V- Lleut - mande * Sanders that the Prize was taken to port. The weather was, fortunately, fine and on May Prize wl™* co ast + WM si B htid and the 7z£ M towed into port. the a a - er^ an , Ca ? l , ain '"* brought to the Admiralty," sa id Admiral jfllieoe and interviewed to see what informS codd be extracted from him, we we able to get from him was an « re e harur ot of h V reareSt .admiration ™ the uenaviour of his enemies. Fe said h« could never have believed it possible for any ship to get such discipline Si «t«5 such shelling without m»kW B dm K ■vfsnssr^ri^ air* given a iintish captain or 3 British »t,;v.