U.S. FREIGHTER IN HOT FIGHT WITH SUB.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14534, 20 February 1918, Page 9

U.S. FREIGHTER IN HOT FIGHT WITH SUB.

CAPTAIN WOULD NOT SURRENDER. LUCKENBACH RIDDLED Wth SHELLS, BUT MADE PORT. Washington, January 12. A detailed of a, four-hoilr bat-' tie, in which a German submarine at-, tacked tho American steamer J. L. L,uckenbach, on October 19, but failed* to cripplo her entirely, was relajted hi a. report issued by the Creel bureau here to-day. ' ■ The captain of the Luckenbach gamely wirelessed a destroyer— two hours distant — that he would never surrender. As a result he. brought his ship safely into port after the struggle. "At 7.30 a.m. the after-lookout oil tha Luckenbach reported a steamer abeam," said the account. The commandea of the armed, guard sighted her • himself about one point forward of the port beam. Upon looking at the steamer, which appeared very suspicious through glasses, a sail appeared on her. Both \ guns were trained in the steamer. The armed gi/«ird then went aloft-, to obtain a better view. When he was half way up the supposed. steamer turned out to be a submarine arid Opined fire. The time was then about 7.30. "The LtickVntjach immediately opened fire with both puns. The first two> or three shots fired by the submarine fell about 2000 yards short. She was^ring at long range. The Luckenbach's shots also fell short. As the submarine .appeared to-be closing irt, the captain was told to put the .stern of the Luckenbach toward her, which he did. Distress 1 signals were sent out by wireless. "The submarine closed iu at --about 2000-yard*. Early in the battle;,oue snot .from the submarine landed on and exploded in the gun crew qxiavtel's, starting a fire which destroyed the. quarters and burned the effects of the gun crews. The same shot burst the fire, main. The fire main was blocked off the water finally got to tho fire. Steam was also turned on the-' flamed. Shortly after the first shot, landed, another shot struck the Quartermaster's room without, \ doing 'itiuch 'damage. A shot landed hear the stem and exploded, .putting the aftergun out of commission. At least 2z£ rounds were fired by the submarine, of which there were only riine clean 'hits," the commander reported. . "Pieces of shell were falling all around tfie deck. Two shells landed on the port side forward, striking the oilers' room and putting. a large hole in, the side. One landed on the port side at the water line, hitting the freshwater tank and most of the freshwater supdrly. Another landed in the petty of'ftcers' mess room and exploded, putting tlie ash hoist out of commis'sofn and bursting the steani pipe/'also wounding two men, one messboy, and fireman. - "One shot passed the weather screen j another exploded in the engine room, wounding the first and third engineers, and- disabling the engines. Pieces .of the same shell sprayed-the room, cutting! wires and pipe conne'cjtibns. Bell, A member of the gun brew. \y'as carrying ammunition up- the ladder, when the shell which lauded in. the master's room, exploded. Ho was blinded for two hours. , - ; *■ "Distress calls, sent out. -were answered at 8.10 o'clock by a 'United Stales jdestroyer. It was asked hdV qujckly J4| could reach the scene replied tw'd hours. ■" '.' '■■■•. "' 7 'Too late,' said the captain of the Luckenbach. . . "'Don't, surretider,' the destroyer answered, an/1 the commanding officer of ,the«KLuckenbach said, 'Never.' „„, ■ ... "The LuckenEach kept firing at , the submarine from 7.40 o'clock until after IL3O o'clock, -during' 'which "■■ the 202 rounds of ammunition were showered on the U-boat. At 11.30 the destroyer fired its first shot at the submarine and forced it to submerge."