Fight with Submarine.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 10 January 1918, Page 1

Fight with Submarine.

AMERICAN SHIP'S ESCAPE.

DESTROYER TO THE RESCUE.

Escaping from a German submarine after a bitter fight lasting nearly four hours, and with seven of her crew wounded, two of them seriously, an American steamer recently arrived at a French seaport. The timely intervention of an American destroyer alone saved the ship from being sent to the bottom. A few hours after the vessel had entered the danger zone a look-out sighted a submarine on the port bow, but before he had time to report its presence the submarine fired a shot which missed the stern of the ship by but a few yards. The captain immediately sent out a wireless call for assistance, as the position of the submarine was such that escape was nearly impossible. The gun crews of the submarine and the steamer then began to exchange shots. The chief gunner of the steamer opened firo at a range of 9000 yards, but all the shots fell short. The submarine kept manoeuvring to keep out of range of the steamer's guns, at the same time maintaining a running fire in an effort to disable them. The merchant ship after altering her course started at full speed in an attempt to escape. The stubbornness of the battle is indicated by the fact that the submarine fired 234 shots at the steamer, which responded with more than 260 shots. . , , After the fight had continued for about two hours, and several shots had struck the ship, wounding four men, one shell hit the vessel and exploded in the engine-room, putting the engines out of commission and rendering the ship helpless. The German commander then approached nearer, and the submarine continued to rain shells upon the disabled craft. The sea was running high at the time, and there seemed little hope of saving the ship, when a low streak of black smoke was sighted on the horizon. It later proved to be an American torpedo-boat destroyer coming at full speed, running right into the sea, and at times nearly disappearing from view. The destroyer had heard the calls for aid sent out by the steamer, and travelled at a speed of as high as 30 knots to come to her assistance. The destroyer immediately made for the submarine, whieh dived and disappeared beneath the surface. The American warship circled about the spot, dropping a few depth charges, but no more signs of the submarine were

seen. The wireless apparatus of the steamer, however, had been disabled soon after the fight began, and the messages never wore received, so that the arrival of the American destroyer was quite unexpected. The submarine apparently was aware of the destroyer 's presence, because she submerged before the destroyer could get within range. A doctor and two assistants boarded ihe merchantman and attended to the .'.ounded. The engineers had great difiiculty in repairing tlic steamer's ensine, and during the night the destroyer and the merchantman lost each other, but finally the steamer made port in safety.