DOOMED SUBMARINES.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 February 1918, Page 4

DOOMED SUBMARINES.

GRIM DEATH-STRUGGLES IN ARCTIC. ;

London, Feb 6

The Press Bureau narrates a remarkable story of adventures in the Arctic Seas in connection with German mining operations and British mine-clearing work in the vicinity of ice-bound ports. When expected merchantmen do not arrive trawlers search for the starved and frost-bitten crews who are often exposed in open boats to the tnry of Arctic Seas. Sometimesthey are not found at all. Occasionally a submarine meets the fate it has prepared for another. We recently found a telephone buoy inscribed : “ Undersea-boat sunk here. Don’t touch, but telegraph to Kiel base.” Another submarine met a similar late. Having torpedoed a munition ship, whose crew took to the boats, the submarine, not guessing the nature of the cargo, rose to the surface and shelled the stricken vessel.

The first shell exploded the cargo. A large motor lorry which was on the deck of the ship was pitched into the sea and landed upon the submarine, sinking her instantly.

A Gernjau communique narrating the story said that the U-boat rose to the surface to see what assistance it could render to the boats, when an explosion damaged the submarine and the crew were left struggling in the water. “ With their pistols in their mouths they implored to be taken into the boats, but were left t-o their fate by -the inhuman Englishmen, who were fit compatriots of the men op the Baralong.”

The Press Bureau adds that ship’s boats were so crowded that it was impossible to take another soul on board. The crews were four days before they reached land. The touching story about the U-boat men imploring for mercy with their pistols in their mouths is truly Prussian.