German U-Boats Flee From Mystery Ships.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 223, 3 November 1916, Page 6 (Supplement)

German U-Boats Flee From Mystery Ships.

BY ALFRED NOYES. It might be supposed that the activities I described in my first article would cover all the operations of the auxiliary fleet. But the extension of their indomitable little lines is one of the most romantic tales ; u the history of naval warfare. For many months flocks of sea-gulis had screamed over a certain strip of coast in North Africa. It was littered and strewn with wreckage and dead bodies from merchant ships, Allies and neutrals, who had met the German submarines. A small flotilla of trawlera and drifters was despatched to these waters: and to-day that coast is clean as any of our own. The value of these patrols in the Mediterranean has been grimly proved. For on one occasion, when their numbers were smaller, a trawler squadron was withdrawn from the mouth of the Adriatic to deal with unexpected trouble in the Aegean. Promptly there were submarines out through the unguarded gates, and more wreckage and dead on the unwatched shores. There are British longshore fishermen in the White Sea, patrolling or frozen in, and others are now patrolling the coast of Bulgaria. One of these tarry old skippers found that something had gone wrong with his trawler's engines. In true Elizabethan style he got into his dinghy, with two men and three rifles, and sent his rusty old boat back to the base. "But where is your skipper?" asked the naval officer of the returned seamen. " 'E's in the dinghy, sir, blockading the Bulgars," was the reply.

They take very simple views o.» Armageddon, some of these trawler skippers, and some excuse for this epic simplicity and largeness has been given to thcm'bv the Germans. For when a trawler Ls 'sunk to-day it is usually reported from Berlin as a guard-stop or "an English warship." Why, then, mav not a Scotch skipper regard his dinghy as a worthy successor at least to the old Yietarv. He knows, at any rate, that "frightfillness" has hern frightened out of existence in Home waters by a herring boat with a Hotehkiss. SANK UNARMED BOATS.

Nothng is more baffling, indeed, to the philosophy of " tlian the fact that, in the long run, desperate remedies are always found for its most desperate manifestations. The sinking of unarmed fishing boats was one of the favourite amusements of Fritz in the carter stages of the war. A typical yam was told me as we entered the waters where it happened, a true varn, that is recorded in the official log books of the auxiliary fleet. It was on a line summer morning that the fishing trawler Victoria left a certaiin port beloved of Nelson, to fish on the Labadie Bank. She carried a crew of nine men. together with a little boy named Jones—a friend of the skipper. Ho held under his arm a well-thumbed copv of "Treasure Island." Perhaps it was this book that had inspired him to the adventure, for, though nobody quite believed at that time in the existence of the twentieth century pirate, there was adventure in the air, and it was only after much pleading that he was allowed to come. This vessel, ol course, was unarmed, and used only for fishing. For a week all went well. There was a good catch of fish, splasliing the rusty-red old craft with shining scales from bow to stern, and pding up below like mounded silver. The cre.v were beginning to think of their women at home and their accustomed nooks in the Lord Nelson and Blue Dolphin taverns. SLOPS, BIT IS SHOT AT. They were aunut a hundred and thirty miles from land, when the sound of c gun was hoard by n'l hands. The bov Jones shut his book on 1m thumb and ran up to the brdge where he stood b. tho skipper. In the distance, against the sunset thev saw the silhouette of a strangelooking ship. At first it looked like a drifter, painted grey, with mizzen set. But the flash of another gun icvealed it as a submarine. The skipper hesitated. Should he stop the ship and trust to the laws o war and the good faith of the enemy? The lives of tho crew and the little who had been left 111 his charge were his first thought. Yes, he would do so. and the order was given. The engines ceased to throb. Then, as the slip rolled idly, he was disillusioned. Ihe gun flashed aagin, and he knew that he was facing an implacable determination to sink and destroy. BOY MEETS HIS PIRATES. It was onlv a forlorn hope, but he would risk it,' and not a man demurred at hlis deeisi n. The engines rang • t nil speed ahead," and the Victoria began to tear through the green water tor home. The subniaime opened a rapid lire from two powerful guns, and the first to fall was the little lad Jones, with his thumb still keeping the place in his "Treasure Island.''" The skipper kept steadMv on his course, with the boy dead at his "feet But the submarine gained rapidly, and continued to pour a devastating'fire on the helpless craft. Ihe skipper was struck next and blown 10 pieces. The bridge was a mass of bloody wreckage and torn flesh. The next sheU shattered the tiny engine-room and killed the engine man. The \ ietor a lay at the mercy of the enemy. The submarine continued to close on her and kept up a rapid lire, hitting thj mate and another engine man. and severely .wounding another. The four men who wer,- hit tried to save themselves. The boat had been smashed to splinters, and they jumped into the water with planks. Careless of tlie men in the water, tin submarine steamed up alongside the Victoria- and sealed her late by placing i.onilis aboard her. There was a violent explosion, and her wreckage, strewn over the face <>•, the waters far and near v.a> the onlv relic of her cxist-

' LEFT IN WATER TWO HOURS. Not till nearly tun hours niter tlm wi-rv> the lour numbed and h< .ploss mon i) the wafer taken aboard the submarine. Tl;ev were pkuvd down in lew, an! onuliv on' -closely examined by the commander as ta the system of patrols in the neighbourhood. Dazed as they Ware, and hardly responsible for their actions, they one and all ivfused to answer their raptors. Late th it night they wore told that the submarine was about to submerge, and s 0 far a.s they eou d gather thev preceded below the surface for over twelve hour>. They kne.v enoug'i about the system of netting to know that thev were in constant danger of iKMnjr trapped in the belly of the sea and drowned, h'dooiisly, in the darkness. Bui not :i man spok-t Durinsi the night they \votx> given -Hii, |.,!fi- and a biscuit each, and the wound of one man who had been badlv Incensed bv a shell was dres-ed byj.be hie.', surgeon They lav in the semidurkmss, listening to the steady beat .nrl hum of the en nines, and wondering • 1,, i kind of a miracle (oithl bring them , (he light of day again ABANDONED IN HMAU BOAT. On the next morning tlie trawler

Hiroso foil a victim to tlio same subjnarine. She was no sooner sighted than she was greeted with a hail of shot. Sho stopped and lowered a boat whih the enemy dashed up . The commander ; of tho submarine shouted through a ' megaphone: "Leave your ship; I give. ! you live minutes.'' The crew complied i —there were ten hands all told —and ' wV*re ordered aboard the submarine, while the Hirosc was blown up. After being given six biscuits each, the crew of the Hirose were put back in their j boat. The survivors of the Victoria I wero ordered on deck and placed in 1 the same obat. The submarine steameJ j away, and shortly afterwards dipped. ; It was very dirty weather at this time. A strong gale blew and the rain ; drenched them. There were fourteen men crowded in a small trawler lioat, n hundred miles from home. By dint of . bailing out the water continually t - !! ! their arms were numbed, they managed !to keep afloat. Twvnty-foiir hours ! later, at (3 o'clock in the morning, they were picked up by the collier Ballater, about sixty miles off Small's lighthouse. ; Their condition was then indescribable. Soaked through and through, with the boat half full of water, battered to an 1 fro by every wave, they had lost, all ' hope and were lying exhausted. Their : bodies were stitff with cramp, and they ! werj hauled on board tho Ballater with difficulty. But there, at least, they found the rough comfort of the sea. Each man was stripped and his clothes ; dried :n tho engine-room. Hot coffee, '' and food, and blankets Kept them alive I till they reached port. BEMEMBERS ONLY SHAMBLES

j But the ordea! had left its mark upon them all, and when examined as « ' his experiences on board the subiu&r----j ine, the boatswain of the Victoria, a man of over sixty years, seemed to bt i too dazed to give any coherent reply ' All that he could remember was the : scene on tho deck of the Y.'ctoifa be j tore the crew took to the sea, and hi* description was that of a shambles, I where six of his mates lay drenched i with blood, some with their heads blown ! off, others screaming in agony jvith : arms and legs off; and, in a chaos of escaping steam and wreckage, the litt'.e boy Jones, with his hand still clasping the biood-sta>aed copy of "Treasure | Island." i The sinking of these fishing boats suddenly ceased, except on rare occasions ; and, for certain reasons, it is now an acknowledged fact that when a submarine sees one it submerges or bolts , .immediately. Details must not be given, i but these smaller fishing heats now form a class to themselves, and they are known among the other auxiliaries as i " Mystery Ships."'

SOMETHING UXDKIt TH ; : BOAT. Only one hint I may give here. ' There was once upon a tune (i simp!j fishing boat, shooting her fishing net.s for simple fish. A submarine appeared and gave her men "Five minutes, you swine!" Immediately there was a panic, which had been part of their drill in port. Two of til? crow .went on their knees for mercy and others haubd at the boat like men possessed. . . 1 must pass over tho details once more, but the resultant pieturc was this: A dummy boat on dock in four pieces and a fine big gun levelled straight at the submarine, attended by gunners of Hs Majesty's Ne.vy, "like gods iu poor disguise." There were two Germans kneeling for mercy; and, alter they had scramoled into safety, there was an abolished submarine and oil upon troubled waters. Many queer transformations have been brought about by this war, for there are not only longshore fishermen in naval uniform, but there are also—manv nivsteries, of which I will say no more." Suffice it that a thing which looks like a battleship may be comparatively harmless by the side ol i thing which looks like Noah's Ark. There are more ways of producing moral effect than wvro dreamed of in German philosophy, and it is enough to say that certain mysteries have made German warships run like hares from a .oat that was harmless as a mouse. i''ven the little knowledge that they possess perplexes them, for they are confronting the most terrible bluff hi tho gamble of war, the bluff that is baekvd bv realities. Passengers on American' and neutral liners with their nags flvng, but—oh, wise precaution—with rafts ready and their boats well storked with food and water. 1 have seen them heaving a sigh or content at tin sight of a British man-o'war that was not really a man-o'-war at all. foaming ahead of Hutu: while all round from skyline to skyline the sea was dotted with insignificant and hardly noted lr.-.i\vn-siiiled cralt—the ships ol Drake and Hawkins, loaded with unima"ined thunderbolts, tlu w«rklTjatrolling battle fleets of Kngland. Kl KP SKA IX ALL WEATHERS. All tho crews of the "auxiliaries' must indeed be seamen, for they must keop the seas in all wontlYen. 'n craft, dospit.i their stunliness, more in rough weather bke buck-jumping pomes. Let the great ships that go sailing by on Christmas Day remember the Christmas of the Van St'irum. Tins yarn also was told to mo, in the waters'whew it hapnoned, while the trawlers wore shooting their deadly ot On Christmas Dav. 101."). the Van Ktinim, a steamer of 1000 ton? not. on :» vov.tre from Kouen to T.iverpool, was ne;iritig home. She wa« Tfi ballast and unarmed, and carried a crow of 1G officers and men.

A heavy south-west swell was ruining, but (be weather was fine, and it was possible to sco for a distance of at least eight miles. At about 1.30 p.m..

without any warning, the Van Stirum was attacked by two German submarines. They were not observed until they had approached to within half a mile of the vessel. This may be due to the fact that they were painted a curious colour —blaclv and white horizontal stripes. One submarine then opened fire. Thre shots were fired in quick succession, but they all fell short. The Van ytirnm immediately altered course and at the same fine serft out a distress call—"Van Stirum chascu by two submarines ;position critical; ii'ing sho's and gaining on us."

OVERHAULED BY U-BOATS. After tlie first attack the engineroom telegraphs were rung up to "full speed." The vessel increase:! from ;i" to 15 knots, and very slowly crew ahead of her adversaries, who had not stopped. Tho race, a very uneven one, was kept up for three-quarters of an hour, when the submarines which late" developed a speed on the surface of about 18 knots, again opened lire. One shell struck the ship on the starboard quarter and another brought down tho wireless aerials. The latter, a Incky shot, cut the vessel entirely off from the outside world.

Realising his helplessness, unable to observe any friendly patrol vessel, *nd knowing quite well that a few more shots would effectually stop Irs vessel, the master decided to abandon his ship, and at 2.30 p.m. the vessel was stopped. At this time one submarine was lying right under the port quarte.-.

KILLED IX LEAVING SHIP. Tho crow loft in the port and starboard lifeboats, two of tho men remaining on boanl to lower ai»»y. Win! • they were endeavouring to get the two men off, the submarine fired torpedo, winch passed under the partly lowered boat and struck the ship abreast the engine-room. One man was blown to pieces by the force of the explosion (\V. A. Bolanger, a boatswain, who hailed from Michigan, U.S.A.)) and another man was also killed and fei' into th ■ water. There was no excuse for this cowardly act. There was not a ship in sight, and the enemy could have, wit 1 ! perfect safety, allowed the now a few minute-; grace to abandon their vessel. Tho submarine was only 200 yards away when the torpedo iwas fired, and the impact was tremendous. There was no doubt as to the nature of the weapon which caused this explosion, as the wake of a torpedo was seen by the crew. During this unprovoked attack on an unarmed ship, in which one of the two men killed was a neutral citizen, th« second submarine was keeping a good look-out for the British patrols. It must bo realised that tho Van Stiriuu was at the time of the attack in large, open waters, and, althougi v) patrol vessel was in sight yet, it was not long after the wireiess mosage that ■\ patrol vessel, 4ilso lifted with wireless, hove in sight, steaming at her utmost speed and followed by her consorts Although the Van Stirum never rvecived the answering call to her S0 S (hc>r aerials having been shot away), yet a reply, "Coming full speed to your assistance" was scat to her by the patrols ftruisng in the vicinity. Observing the aprcaeh of the British patrols, and the torpedo having failed to sink the Van Stiruni, one submarine hastily returned and fired live shells into her.

The noise of the cxplovons and the rapid interchange of wireless communi- '* .it-ions between the patrols of trawlers and other craft also brought three British destroyers on the stone, and they wot'fl observed coming dow.i at high speed, but by thist'ine both submarines had submerged and bolted.

RISKS SHIP IN RESCUE. A Belgian fishing trawler picked up the survivors shortly after they had been set adrift. She had heard the firing, and, although fishing at the time with her trawl down, sho immediately hauled -:t in and, hoisting the Belgian colours, proceeded with the utmost despatch toward the sound of the tiring. I'lio Belgian skipper did not heed the possibility that he, too, in turn might bo destroyed (for lie was entirely unarmed), but was prompted by the desire to save life. The crew were ail transferred to his vessel and brought into port. i.'.unvhile the patrols continued to search the neighbourhood for tire en"niy, and, although unsuccessful in disrovering and destroying them, they levrtheless effectually stopped further depredations, and tnereby rendered invaluable .service to the crowd of shipping which cent nually passes up and down these main routes.

HEAVY LOSSES IX STORM. The approach of the patrols liad undoubtedly prevented the out my from finishing (iff tlior prey; for eighteen hours afterward the Van Stiruni, still afloat, was abserved by a patrol vessel with a heavy list to starboard. Her boat*' fulls were hanging outboard, ail boats had l>oen washed away, and tho vessel was waterlogged. It- seemed impossihlo that she could havo lived Hi the weather then prevailing, which had grown suddenly worse and developed into a gale during the night. This bad weather continued for days afterward, and reached its height on December 27 when the vessels on patrol suffered verv severe damage. The force of this gaie can be imagined when it is stated that over s'xty patrol vessels suffered damago and two were lost with all hands. Forever on ceaseless watch, ready ut all times to render protection to peaceful merchantmen sailing the high sea.s and to attack the enemy at sight, th.se small craft have kept the sea in eal.n and storm and shown their supremo value as a lighting unit ol the British navy. During this galo an incredible number ol ships were lost, and the loss of life was appalling. Vessels were cast bigh and dry on the shore a considerable distance iniand. Others were hurled and smashed on the rocks. CHRISTMAS DINNER ON DERELICT.

Tho story of the attempt to save ti; ■ Van Strum and bring her into port 1 characteristic of the pluck, pertinacitv, and enduramo oi toe auxiliary crew. On (he ruing of December 2(5 one o! the patrol vessels which bad diwovered the \an Stirum lowered a boat with four bands in order to pass a hawser on board and tow her into port. The uh dertaking was fraught with the greatest danger. Kuornious seas w ere breaking over the vessel and she was lurching heavily. Nothing daunted, tho.four men' pulled to the derelic an I clambered on board. No sonm r had tlie last man hauled himself up on one of the swing boats' falls than their little boat was smashed to pieces against th < ship's side and immediately sunk, wild picture met their gaze when they were able to look round. The engines had been blown bv the fore of the explosion to the starbeanl sid - ef the vessel. Engine-room and stolcehohl were full of water. The chart office on the bridge was explored. Her» everything was "found intact—a strange contrast with the dosolaton outside. Thee was a chart tn the table marked off to a

position at which the vessel should hav: arrived at noon on the previous day. A still stranger sight met them on entenn gthe saloon. The tables ha 1 all been lad for the Christmas dinner which was never eaten.

STRUGGLE TO SAVE VESSEL. The little party of four then set to work in earnest and successfully passed a 5-inch hawser from the port bow to the attendant trawler; but as the derelict's steering gear had been jammed, she became uncontrollable. Another trawler then closed on the derelict and successfully managed to take a wire and keep her in position while the first trawler towed. Shortly afterward the wire parted, and another effort—again unsuccessful—was made to take a rope from the port quarter. This manoeuvre was carried out with great skill, as th: trawler had to pass very close to receive her rope. Another trawler closed ill and took a second rope from forward, and towing vns again recommended, with one vessel steering. The day wore on. Wires and ropes frequently parted, but each time the difficulty was overcome, by sheer persistency and each time new lines were passed to and fro. The afternoon faded and darkness begin to shroud tho waters. It was an inky night, and the wind freshened and continued to blow with ovei-increasing violence. The skies seemed to open. Rainstorms swept tha seething waters; the lines of foam, discovered by the flickering lights of th? patrol vessels as the waves topped their bulwarks, threatened to engulf both the derelict and those trying to save her. They made very ]itt?e headway, bu", steadily plugged on toward a haven where they hoped to be able to beach their prize.

SITUATION ALMOST HOPELESS. The day dawned, revealing the derelict in very serious strats. The situation was practically hopeless. The seas ran mountains high, and it looked as if she would s'nk at any minute. At G.-'IO a.m. on December 27 the derelict broke adrift from the last wire that held her. It was now impossible to communicate. Nas broke over he.from end to end. She began to lurch very heavily and gave one the impression that her last moments had come. Meanwhile the gallant little four ;e----maned at their posts on board. The trawler Leader warned all vessels to clear and then steamed right up alongside. In doing so she struck her quarter against the counter of the derelict and started rivets and plates. The lieu. tenant ill charge decided that whatever happened he would save the four men who were on hoard. After clearing his vessel he again closed. His remaining boat was then launched and a heaving line thrown on board the sinking ship. No sooner had the boat been hauled alongside than the Van Stirum suddenly rolled over to starboard an I went down by the head; her stem strucc the bottom and she remained for fullv a minute with her stern in the air before falling over and disappearing. The four men managed to slide down the ship's side just in time to cut the boat adrift and push clear. In doing so tlu boat was nearly swamped. The trawler again closed and just managed to rescue them: but the boat was swept away from her sr.de and lost.

SEA POWER RESTS ON MEN. Mention lias already been made of the memorable gale of December 27, yet the patroi vessels concerned remained on their beat and only returned to port to revictual and repair at the authorised hour on Dec-ember 29, and were off to sea again two days later. lc is upon such nun—not upon modern machinery—that sea power, in the last resort, depends, and tlio sea power of the Island 'Empire rests secure m her possession of a vast seagoing brood which to-day, as in the days of the Armada, occupies its business, from childhood to old age, in great waters. Nor have they forgotten to see the ancient works and. wonders in the deep. Alanv of them drink and curse; but more of them are (piiet, God-fearing men with a Bible in their kit, who have a fist of iron for the face of the wicked. And not one of them is even remotely like the ivid creatures of modern literature. Battle transfigures them. Oc-casionally-in any stir that breaks the monotonv of their days and nights—oue catches a glimpse of what that transhgfiurntion must be. As our patrol boat stole into port at dusk we passed a "mystery ship'' making ready to sail. There were men on h'er deck who walked and looked like panthers. There was ,\n indescribable smouldering >n their eyes, a de.>p tire, which may oe seen even in the pictures ot the boy Jack Cornwall, the young hero of the .Jutland battle. In repose "- has a touch of sullrness; but it is the sulkiness of thunder and deep waters, and its secret abides with those who have looked from birth into the eyes of their inscrutable mother, the sea.

VAST WORK DONE IN SECRET. But the aspect of the whole matter which it seems most desirable to emphasise is just that aspect winch has been overlooked by neutrals on almost every s>do of this world war . When no immediate sensational food has been provided for the hunger of the daily press, it might be supposed that rational folk would at least consider two possibilities : (a ) That operations on a treat scale, together with the creation of trained bost> and elaborate equipment, require 11 va.st amount of quiet work in order to secure success. Any one, ol course, oven the Crown Prince, can make a holocaust. (Ti) That it is sometimes necessary tn conceal, with tho greatest care, every sin.'ia fait that might help to answer m) easv a question as, " What is England doingV' or, "When is England going tn wake upl-"' Yet if there be any capable of imnginj,,., the ma>.l»d.in from the one or two ( |.- v 'l,„nes here gven it must occur to I in , ,],;,• the work ol organising and d;- ,'.. r ij.i<' the operations of even the "nux,|,;lrv'Tleef .s a gigantic one, and tha: 11, s 'i s nevertheless only a very small P.rt. indeed, in relation to the work ol the Her'. H-elt. I-BOAT TRACKED FOR MILES. \t ciich auxiliary base there are olli,vs „r "strafe houses,- manned by ofliiers of the Roval Navy, who control ami direct and'are in constant touch with all that is Happening in a our seis They have mapped out all our waters on which the movements of nil r ...,ortecl submarines are recorded anil l-„l| mvPl l up. More than a little dis(!)lu.e.tingit would beta our enemies to look at om* of these great maps, whero- , „ nol onlv the spots at which submar,„es have' been sighted are neatly marked, but also the evict courses which tliev have taken, with all then wanderings, for hundreds oi miles, trni . P .l in thin red lines, till the moment v.hen the signal is gven by telephone nntl wireless, for the guns and nets to ,! 'nis n not always mere oflice work in qtrnfo houses, for one of them m 1,., m ventilated bv a well-aimed shell

from a Gormnn battleship in a hurry. The only result however, was the pleasure taken by the occupants in the fact that the Royal Standard which covered one of the perforated walls had thus heen turned into a shot-rent trophy. But sensationalism is ot little account in the strafe house, and the headline s reduced there to the very smallest type. While 1 was listening to terse tales othe recent bombardment, there was a dull explosion far out at sea. The tel s phone immediately began to make inquiries-, and a little Inter the news came that one of our trawlers had been Jost with all hands. Faces were grave, but there were only threo or four remarks on the subject in the strafe house. The first was: "Traffic must be held up.' The second was "Her skipper was a good chap.'" The third was: "She must bo replaced by trawler No. So and So; not the Stormy Petrel, she had a long sp.'ll last week.''

JH TV—NOT SPOT? F. And those three remarks sum up the sailor's atttude towards this warfare—duty, sober realisation of the hard facts, and care for the men. From rst to last, despite the ironical name of the office, I encountered none of that mere "sporting desire'' to kill Germans w:th which our seamen have been credited, from first to last, through all ranks, they are simply doing their duty. There is regret sometimes, when they Know that a submarine has been destroyed and they arc unable to get "'the scalp," in the form of evidence that will no accepted by the Admiralty. But the symbol of the whole work that they aro doing was jmividod by the beautiful polished brass perscopc of t German submarine which 1 saw in the comfortable room of the senior naval officer, "t had been turned into a flower stand nnd carried a crown of English roses. Be uty and civilisaton sometimes do get forward even on top ot a German periscope. —New York "Tribune."