Three-Hour Fight With U-Boat.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 29 December 1917, Page 4

Three-Hour Fight With UBoat.

FRENCHMEN'S HEROIC STAND. The little Trench sailing ship Klcber ' lias been mentioned in Army orders and the crew have been decorated in recognition of a great fight with and escape from a German submarine after as heroic a struggle as was ever fought at sea, The Kleber, a three-master of 2/7 tons, employed 011 coasting work, re- - eentiv left 'England for La Rochelle, and was off Morbihan on September 7 when, a large submarine suddenly opened lire. The skipper .an old salt named La Fauve, promptly tried to get the protection of the shore, while the submarine, like von Spec in the Pacific, sought the advantage of the setting sum But the French gunners returned the (ire, and the submarine was forced to dive. Twenty minutes later the U-boat reappeared and tiring began again. Ihe Kleber was struck several times and the skipper killed, and the chief gunner, a youth, of 19 nametl Jain, knocked over by the concussion of a passing shell. ' ' The mate, Plessix, decided to keep on board only the 'men necessary for the gun, and he ordered six others to take to two little boats which had been launched. Before they could do so he was mortally wounded. The boatswain, Mounier, now took command, and the I two boats with four in one and two in j the, other, left the ship. Seeing this, [ the submarine made towards the first I boat and took the four Frenchmen on [ to its deck. The U-boat then steered | for the Klcber, probably expecting to | find 011 board only dead and wounded, j As a matter of fact Mourner was the j only unwounded man, but Bazillo, a i gunner, although injured, was still at | the gun, and was soon rejoined by Jain, 1 who had retired to bandage his wound. 1 They saw the submarine approach; I they saw their comrades on its deck as I hostages. I GRIM CHOICE. | It was a tragic choice, but they did I uot hesitate. The U-boat fired as it I came near. When about 300 yards i awav the Kleber's gun again began to J bark. But the gunner had received anI other wound,and it was Mounier who i fired the last of the 160 to 200 shots cxj changed during a fight of three hours. The shot caused the submarine to dive so suddenly that a German and the four : Frenchmen were thrown into the sea, : eventually reaching a small boat which , was adrift. ■ I The Ivleber meanwhile disappeared m 1 the growing darkness and made sail to--5 I wards Groix, arriving at one in the - 1 morning. Six hours later her two boats ; I arrived. They had been again caught E I by the submarines, which had risen to f I search for the missing German. The U--1 I boat commander, probably appreciating f I the licroic spirit which liad inspired the i' I sailors' conduct, contented himself on e I this occasion with ordering the boats to 1 I get out of the way.