BOMBS AT SEA

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2675, 22 January 1916, Page 3

BOMBS AT SEA

STEAMER'S REMARKABLE ESCAPE In the> North Sea on November 17 tho British steamer Dotterel, of the Cork Steamship Company, from London to Rotterdam,was the first subject <if a now German method of attacks on merchant vessels (writes the Rotterdam correspondent of the London. "Daily Telefraph"). Two -flying machines, one a ydroplane, besides dropping bombs, circled around the steamer for 40 minutes, firing on it all the time it was within range with machine-guns. The full story of the attack was told by Captain Kelly. "I did not see the two aeroplanes until,they were close on ■lis," ho said. "Then I picked up my rifle and waited, but I could not make out what they were or what they were after. Then I saw the bullets splashing, into the sea. close to the ship. 'They are fighting each other,' I said to the mate, for I thought it was. one of our fellows and a German having a scrap. "They circled round tho ship three times, blazing away at. us all the time.' Tho rattle was continuous. They each had a- machine-gun,, and shots fell all over the ship. It was a miracle none of ns was hit. All the crew except the engineer's staff were on deck all t 1 time-, even tho firemen who were off duty came up to have a look at the show. The third time the Germans circled round tlioy also dropped bombs. I steered all over the place to dodge tho aeroplanes, and had to keep my eyes all the time on the ship's course, watching for mines. "To me that was the worst part of it, becaiuse we passed very close to sonio of tho mines in heading the ship off lier true courso. The mate saw ono of the bombs drop very close to the ship. After they had come round the third time, the mate had a couplo of'shots with a rifle, and I had a blaze at them, too, while we also fired a rocket, but tlipy had by this time risen higher, and went off in the direction of Ostend. Most of the bullets hit tho sides of the ship, some being below water, but as theywere fired at an angle. they did not penetrate. Ono missilo weiit through tho water tank of one of' the Slip's boats, leaving a large hole, which looks as if it bad been caused, not by an ordinary bullet, but by an explosive projectile of some sort. Other evidence that something other than ordinary bullets was used is contained in the fact that several small bits of metal have been found in different parts of the ship. The attack took place 13 miles west of the North Hinder Lightship."