OVER IN FOUR AND A HALF MINUTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11594, 12 January 1916, Page 1

OVER IN FOUR AND A HALF MINUTES.

TRAPPING OF THE SUBMARINE A GUNNER'S STORY. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. (Received January 12, 10.45 a.m.) LONDON, January 11. A gunner on the Baralong states that they received the Nicosra-n's wireless message on August 19 and went at full speed to her assistance. An hour later they sighted the Nicosian being shelled by a submarine, while the crew were' getting.into lifeboats. -- • .--j ■ ' ' .' 1 ; ■ '* • ' ! "We had'plenty of ammunition and were ready on the poop. The marines took shelter behind "bulwarks, and our captain, by excellent seamanship, •brought the vessel to starboard of the Nicosian, so that we were hidden from the submarine's view for -a few moments, during which we cleared for action," trained our guns outboard, and hoisted the white ensign. When we appeared around -the Nicosiairs bows the submarine fired a shot. The marines replied with a, volley and swept

the decks. Tho submarine, seemed demoralised and her crew immediately left thefr guns and rushed to the conning tower, several going overboard. We fired the port, and stern guns and hit the submarine beneath the waterline, the second shot striking the .conning tower and sending two men flying high in the air. The submarine gradually sank and every one of her crew

was either .drowned or shot. - Only a few i parts of bodies and a large quantity of j oil remained on the surface. '"'The action lasted four and a half minutes. We fired thirty-seven rounds. The '-submarine was one of Germany's; ; j latest and largest," three hundred feet in length and one thousand tons register,, with two suns fore and aft of slightly larger calibre than 'the Bara-i long's.. We were disgusted by the j ' ' ! cowardice of the submarine's crew. { ' "" i Apart from the heavier guns, they bad j several torpedo tubes. They were-ready' enough to kill and maim the passengers of -defenceless merchant vessels, but had lp stomach for fighting armed ships, even when the odds were in their favour. We rescued 107 of the crew of the Xieosian, none of whom were injured or killed. Our casualties were nil."