FIGHTING THE U-BOAT.

Taihape Daily Times, 18 June 1918, Page 7

FIGHTING THE U-BOAT.

A SMART PIECE OF WORK. Here is a very credible performance by one of H. M # ships, She was escorting an oiler through thick weather, when the steamer was torpedoed. Neither ship had seen the submarine, but half an hour later an object was sighted about half a mile away, aiid the King's ship headed in tbat direction. A round was 'fiife'd which hit before the conning tower. Just afterwards the enemy was rammed, a severe shock being felt throughout the ship as she passed over the Üboat. Almost simultaneously a violent explosion occurred. The ship now circled round under starboard helm, and took up position lat the place of the explosion. The sea was boiling with foam, rushes of big airbubbles were coming to the surface, and oil was observed. Two men were seen in the water; one was rescued. The ship then returned to the torpedoed oiler; which she towed into port.

It will be seen that submarine-hunt-ing is conducted along a variety of lines. An armed trawler on patrol sighted the conning tower and upper part of the hull, of one awash about a mile away. The trawler opened fire with her forward gun. The first round missed, the second fell fell short but ricochetted into the conning tower, the third burst into the middle of the conning tower, the fourth burst on the lower part of the conning tower, the fifth hit the water over the spot where the submarine had disappeared. The I enemy was not seen again. Finally, the experience of a imotor launch. Sighted a periscope 200 yards away, she went towards it at full speed. The German promptly disappeared ;so two charges were dropped in selected positions. Following the explosion of th eair, first, a column of water was thrown about 30ft. into the air, together with flat sheets of metal. A second explosion followed, after which the sea was discoloured and a quantity of oil came up.