SMACK OF ONE GUN SINKS A SUBMARINE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 288, 29 June 1917, Page 1 (Supplement)

SMACK OF ONE GUN SINKS A SUBMARINE.

FRENCH FISHER-CRAFTS GLORIOUS END.

"Le Journal" (Paris), of April 3, publishes an account of the sinking of a 400-ton German submarine by a French fishing-boat maimed by a crew of six.

The smack was returning to port in a violent west-north-west gale, when there suddenly appeared through the fog a black mass, [which the skipper at first tock for a wrick. It was really a submarine, which, failing to encounter a transport, was prepared to sink even a fishing-boat. Tho wrecker's commander presently appeared on the bridge, ;md shouted, "1 am going to sink your smack; take to your boat.'' With true Him irony, he added, "At any rate, you can't say I torpedoed you without warning." He know quite well that the smack's cockleshell boat would be swamped within ten minutes.

To gain time the smack's shipper parleyed while his men rapidly prepared to fire their solitary gun. "Get into the boat," repeated the German officer, impatiently.

Scarcely had ho said these words when a shell from the smack struck the submarine's stem. Surprised by the fishermen,s bold determination to fight, the German hesitated a moment, but resolved not to submerge his vessel. Ho blew his whistle; his men loaded a gun. and tlm submarine drew back and began firing, but tho sea was l so choppy that the submarine danced on the waves, and her fire at first pioved ineffectual.

For twenty minutes tho battle lasted, and then the submairne sank forever. The smack was also a -finking wreck, and her crew only had just time to jump into their boat when she went down. Tho men had the good fortune to be rescued bv a trawler.