SUBMARINE AND FISHER= MEN.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 219, 20 October 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

SUBMARINE AND FISHER= MEN.

A SPITEFUL REVENGE. Mr. David Stewart, the skipper i! the Cockenzie fishing craft Jane Stewart, sunk by ,a German submarine recently in the iNorth Sea with othc craft, had an interesting story to ten of the crew's experiences. He related tr a representative of the "Scotsman" l ow the crew were taken aboard the submarine. There they were met by a number of Germans, each of whom hold a loaded revolver, and had a glitfing axe at Jus belt. They were crowded company on the submarine, the crews of two other captured vc - sels being on board also. The submarine stood away, and began to move through the water at a speed which tho skipper estimated at seventeen o< eighteen knots. Meantime the boarding officer came and questioned Aim about the other vessels. Presently tn? officer gnv his attention to a vessel which they approached. He informed the skipper that lie and his companions were to be put aboard thrs vessel. As f'tey drew nearer this fishing boat extinguished its lights. The submarine held on its course, and was soon alongs de. The civw were hailed, and an officer demanded to know why the liglits had been put out. There was no answer except the obvious one. that the crew had no wish to come into closer c< litact with the enemy vessel ■i could be avoided. But to attempt to elude an armed hostile vessel is a mis- ('.• ineanour according to thu German code, and called for punishment. This fishing boat was to have been spared. It must now be destroyed. Accordingly the crew were ordered to c nio aboard the submarine. A bomb was placed oil the culprit. The fishermen were put aboard another fishing hi.at. and leit to themselves. I'he hoarding officer who had done most or the t-.iiking w : th the fishermen gave them very definite instructions before tl cy left the submarine. They were to luep their lights burning and remain until daylignl. If they did not do so they would be shelled. These instructions th" German officer repeated several times, placing his arm round the skipper's shoulder and speaking close to hi"."ear. The (Viekenx'e skipper was impiosscd with the speed and systematic manner in uhioli the submarine did its work. Altogether, ho st.ttrs. eleven boats wcr sunk, and lie calculated that oi an average one was dealt with everv sixteen minutes. In some cases tlie crews ol destroved fishing boats were sent ad'-ift in their own row:ng boats. \ number of these came tip during the night-, and their occupants hoarded the already crowded fr-hing vessel. I'he men we:v ultimately picked up bv a patrol boat.