SUBMARINE WARFARE

Hokitika Guardian, 21 June 1918, Page 3

SUBMARINE WARFARE

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.] U-BOAT ROBBERS. (Received This Day, at 12.10. a.m.) LONDON, June 20. German submarines aro still robbing the crews of the ships attackod, and turning tho victims adrift in open boats. Recently a British steamer was torpedoed without warning, wrecking the boiler-room. Two firemen wore . killed and the chief and second engineers scalded. The officers and crew took to the boats, one of which was shelled, and four sailors were killed. The submarine ordered the boats alongside, and the men to muster on the submarine’s deck. Tim captain was taken below as a prisoner. As the steamer did not sink the I submarine’s captain sent his men aboard ' to ransack the ship for jewellery, cutlery, clothing and food. They finally sank the steamer with bombs. Meanwhile the remainder of the crew were ca9t adrift.

One boat remained in attendance on tli© submarine for five hours and was then allowed to depart, but were unablo to pick up their comrades. This boat cruised for five days, hoping to roach land. Tho conditions wero becoming critical, when an American steamer picked thorn up. Out of 28 in the other boat only five survived, after four days’ exposure. Of those one has since died in the hospital. MORE U-BOATS. WASHINGTON, Juno 30. Two additional U-bonts were sighted off the. coast.