HOW THE TRAFALGAR WAS SUNK.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 53, 1 November 1915, Page 6

HOW THE TRAFALGAR WAS SUNK.

THE CAPTAIN'S STORY. An interesting account of the sinking of the British steamer Trafalgar by a German submarine is given by Captain Peter, who was iu command of the liner. Captain Peter had received warning when leaving Norfolk of the danger zone and on reaching a position due south of the Fastnet Rocks on August 22 had all the boats swung out and lowered to the rails iu case of emergency. "I was awake at 5.30 a.m.," he writes, "and at 5.45 the second mate hollered down that he had sighted a submarine a little on the starboard bow. f was up on the bridge in about two jumps,-and sure enough there she was, just the top of the conning-tower showing. Our position was then about GO miles to the south-south-west of Eastnet. There was no chance of running for the land, so I turned round and ran to the north-west.

"The submarine being, I estimated, six or seven miles away', she fired a shot. We saw the smoke of the explosion, but, of course, a long way from US. I had heard that the submarines were possessed of plenty <>! speed,'hut put down a lot to exaggeration, and thought she would take a while to catch us, and in the meantime we might see something; but this one had plenty of speed, from 17 to IS knots by the rate she overhauled us. At 6.45. she was about a mile and al.alf away, and she rounded up and treated 'us to a couple more shots, both falling short. By this time we had the boats Lb provisioned, and all ready, and were steaming about ID or 'll knots. The Chinese crew were'almost, frantic. At 6.s)'she was fllitaerj and gave us a.couple more shots l , the boats,at that time being lowered down to the water, j The last two'.shots canie too plose to be at all pleasant,' the first, just under the starboard quarters, and the second Hying over the bridge and exploding over the foredeck. 1 thought that was enough, as there was nothing in sight, and she could have run rings round .us and planted shots where she Jiked. It would not have bettered, things getting 'anybody killed, so we' got into,the boats and left her. . The' last -two' shots had seared .what little sense there was left out of the Cl'ii•nese. They were all away on the first lifeboat, We had to pull after/them eventually, 'and divide, up the; crews;. The submarine sent a crew aboard with bombs and dynamite, or something of that description, and exploded them. As she did not seem to lie sinking quick enough for them they pumped it couple of explosive shells into her, and she went down at 8.30. We were about a mile away at that time with the three 'boats tied together.

"The submarine came alter us, and lu-ought us the other boat. They were not so had. They ordered me on board with the ship's papers. I told the officer that I had destroyed everything but the articles and register. He threatened to take me to Germany, but it was all bluff. He was going to keep the articles and register, but eventually he gave them to inc. .1 asked him to tow us a bit towards the land, but he said he had not time, and made off. In about half an hour's time we saw why he had not time, as the .smoke of another steamer was picked up, so 1 guessed he got somebody else as well as us. We pulled away to the north-cast, and were picked.up by the s.s. •Carthagenian, outward bound to .Montreal, at noon, having been only about four hours in the boats. She sent the news ashore by wireless. We wo\\> transhipped to the Obi and landed in Glasgow on August 26." i