DRIFTERS FIGHT CRUISERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 8, 4 October 1917, Page 5

DRIFTERS FIGHT CRUISERS

BRITISH NAVAL PLUCK IN ADRIATIC

GALLANT FIGHT AGAINST ■ ODDS

A line of British drifters employed in watching anti-submarine nets in the Straits of Otranto were attacked by three Austrian cruisers at dawn on May 15. Further particulars of tho action, in as far as they bear on the behaviour of the British drifters are now available. ' The drifters weie disposed in eight divisions of about six boate each, along a line running roughly east and west. They carried a crew of ten men each, and one email gun. The Austrian cruisers I separate*! on approaching the line, one attacking the centre and the other two the divisions on each wing. In one case the enemy • appears \to have acted with chivalry towards the little craft, signalling by blasts of tho siren and dipping her flag that the crows were to abandon their vessels. This cruiser approached to within 100 yards of the Gowan Lea and hailed her to take to the boats! Skipper J. Watt, B.N.R. (Trawler Section), having slipped his nets, replied by ringing down for full, speed ahead, and, calling on hie crew for three cheers, bade '.hem fight to a finish. Amid cheers they/ manned the gun, and continued to fire with good effect until a shot from the cruiser disabled the gun. They stuck to it, however,, under heavy fire, endeavouring to repair the damage, until the cruiser had passed out of range.

The! Indomitable Skipper. The Gowau Lea then proceeded to the assistance of a badly damaged consort, the Floandi, which had four men killed and three wounded out of her complement of 10, but'whose skipper, though woundeu , in threo places, remained at ins post throughout the action. In the meanwhile the remaining cruisers had opened a devastating fire on the centre and other wing of the.line. Tet despite the overwhelming odds against the dnicei'fl and the willingness of the enemy to allow the crews to take lo iheir boats, a spirit of indomitable gallantry was' shown from one end of the .me to the other throughout the action. The crew of the Admirable only abandoned their vessel-after the boiler had exuloded, and the wheel-house had been shot away. Even then A. Gordon the ucond hand, scrambled back on board with the apparent intention of Hhting the "un single-handed, but was killeu. The "Girl'Eose, Coral Haven, unci faelby were not abandoned by their crews uctil the foundered under them. The crew of he sinking Taits having taken to the boat and mustered their number, discovered that one was unaccountecH-ir, and returned to their vessel. through heavy fire to search for their missing shipmate.

Refused to Leave the Ship. Second Hand Joseph Hendry, of the Serene remained on board until the ship sank rather than be taken prisoner and was picked upout of the water fn hour Inter by the British Crown The crews of the Ctorri jill, Bon Espoir, Smas Daiey, nnd British Crown refused to leave their vesselß, even when outranged and m:der broadside fire from the cnomy, and broucht them through the action. The enemy displayed particular wixiety to destroy tho wireless telegraphy drifter in each group, and tho.behaviour of lie wireless operators of Oapellu (W. Wadsworthj and GarrigM (.Tnracs Tarwood) In remaining at their posts tlirouffhoiit the action is thus rendered the more conspicuous. Tho wireless operator of Hie Floandi. Bouslas If. Hams, A.8., E.N.V.8., was found dead in hie chair at the conclusion of the action, collapsed over tho wireless log in which i.o was Suiting at the moment of. Jiia death.