BRUTAL ATTACK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 December 1939, Page 5

BRUTAL ATTACK

SINKING OF BRITISH SHIP USKMOUTH SUBMARINE FIRES AT CLOSE RANGE. CASUALTIES AMONG CREW. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.50 a.m.) RUGBY. December 29. The full story is now revealed of the sinking in the Bay of Biscay of the British steamer Uskmouth, which after dodging three torpedoes, which were fired without warning, was fired upon by a U-boat from close range, under circumstances which constitute it one of the most brutal attacks on a merchantman ever made, even by German submarines. The naval authorities attribute the subsequent fury displayed by the crew of the U-boat to the annoyance felt at the loss of three torpedoes, for a submarine can carry only a limited number and the journey back to the bases for supplies is both long and hazardous. It was nearly eleven o’clock on a clear night when the officer on watch saw a torpedo track passing close ahead of the ship. The Uskmouth’s helm was at once put over and as the ship was swinging, the track of a second torpedo passed close to her bows. Then, as the Uskmouth was still swinging under her helm, the track of a third torpedo was seen. This passed astern of the Uskmouth. Prompt use of the helm had enabled the merchant ship to dodge the three torpedoes, fired without warning, but she was not to escape. The U-boat opened fire with her guns at a range of only about three hundred yards. Not only did the U-boat begin shelling while the crew of the Uskmouth was getting to the boat's but the Germans fired high and used shrapnel. The U-boat captain appeared to be determined to cause as many casualties as possible among the defenceless merchant seamen. A port lifeboat was damaged by shellfire. A shell cut one of the falls of the boat. The boatswain, who was in this boat getting it ready for lowering, was thrown into the sea. Another shell bursting over the upper deck killed the third officer and one of the seamen. The chief officer tried to go to the aid of the fallen men but another shell burst overhead and wounded him in the head. Meanwhile, the remainder of the crew succeeded in lowering a starboard boat and getting into to it. Blinded with blood, the wounded chief officer just succeeded in reaching this boat. That lifeboat, with twenty-two men on board, pulled away from the ship while the submarine continued the shelling. Not only had the U-boat deliberately set herself to inflict casualties on the Uskmouth’s crew as they were abandoning ship but at no time was any attempt made to ensure the safety of those in the lifeboats. They were left to fend for themselves in an open boat 120 miles from land. By magnificent seamanship, the lifeboat sailed nearly 120 miles at a speed of nearly six knots and actually sighted land before being picked up by the Italian motor vessel, Juventus. Before abandoning the Uskmouth, the wireless operator succeeded in getting out S.O.S. signals. These were picked t up by a French warship about eightyfive miles away. It dashed at full speed for the position given and found the boatswain of the Uskmouth alive in the water. The warship did not stop at once to pick him up. for there was a good chance of being able to sink the U-boat. It therefore dropped a raft close, to the man and rushed on to attack the U-boat. After doing so, the French warship returned and picked him up.