KILLING-A "U"-BOAT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 11, 8 October 1919, Page 10

KILLING-A "U"-BOAT

STORY 0¥ AN ADVENTURE WITH "THRILLS."

A story of a battle with a German submarine was tola in this Uritish I'm* Ourt recently when counsel (Air. le yiu-siie) iiskcu for prize bounty lor one 01 His Majesty's ships. Omirles iivcrurd Uugh.cs White, R.Js., D.5.0., Lieuteiiant-Cmuinandor, stated in an affidavit that on October as, WW, he was in command of His Majesty s ship Melampus, towing a seaplane lighter in tno L'nglisli Channel before a heavy south-westerly gale. At 12.15 p.m. the Lighter broke adrift, «ind at Mil,, Wills* semiring tliu low again, a submarine was sign ted Ave miles to tlio southward ot Selsey Hill. Tlio submarine was later round to be tne lieriuim submarine UClli. • She was on tho surface moving westward at high speed. The lighter was slipped with some difncult;;, ana the Melampus proceeded at lull spued to attack the submarine. They were not observed until they had closed too submarine to within three-quarters of a mile Tho submarine then dived rapidly, and tlio Melampus just missed ramming heh. ■ , ... , 'J'ne Melampus eased speed, and slipped both explosive paravanes, and towed them backward and forward in a broad zigzag course. Only one-paravane dived, and as minutes later hooked the submarine and exploded immediately. Lieutenant White then dropped riireu depth charges, and there were explosions. Wnilst the Melampus was steering another zigzag course- to rum the _ submarine if sue reappeared, large blisters of air bubbles, eaen 17 _ leet to 20 feet in diainoter, broke surface -at a spot about 20 yards on the Melanipus's beam. The second paravane was then mado to dive slowlv, and was deeply towed across the snot, and fired from the ship. Oil was seen on the surface, but owing to the verv high seas and the rising "ale, it was impossible to etoy on the scene, and nothing-was nicked'up. The claimants Had reason to believe the submarine, carried the complement usual with crait of its type ot 25-23 officers and wen, and three supeniumeraries. , , Lord Stcrndale awarded .£l3O prize bounty.