HOW ONE MAN CAPTURED A BATTLESHIP.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 53, 11 June 1910, Page 10

HOW ONE MAN CAPTURED A BATTLESHIP.

HASSANS PERILOUS J'KAT. I It was during the war between Greece and Turkey in'ism that the inhabitants of Gala Krini— a, largo village, -im-i- destroyed by the Turks, on the shores of the Gulf of Arta—awoke one morning' to find that a Hellenic battleship had ottered the gulf and cast anchor „|f (]| t shore. The surprme, however, of the Turks, savage Albanians, and fanatical Greeks who comprised the inhabitants of Gahi Krini was nothing compared with that of a party of five Turkish officers, who, from the crest of a hill towering about the village, watched the vessel through their telescopes. These Turkish officers were on an 1 urgent and important mission—to block' out the Hellenic fleet from the Gulf of 1 Arta. Behind them, at the bottom of the deep ravine, were a number of heavy guns which had been dragged all the way from Salonica, a Ion? and difficult task, and with this artillery thev had been ordered to fortify the straits.' To reach the straits, however, the Turkish column had to run the gauntlet of the battleship's heavy guns, wnich meant sheer destruction. 'Somehow or other they must escape the man-o'-war or prevent her interference with their, work, but to do this seemed impossible. HASSAN'S PROPOSAL.

In the midst of their discussion they were interrupted iby a young subaltern whom they had left in charge of their horses. "Father," he cried, addressing his superior in the mariner usual with Turks, "I know this village very well. , l' have overheard what you: said about the Greek ship and how matters stand. Now, if you will believe me, I say that I can iprevent her to-night from stirring from where she now is."

At .first the officers refused to listen' to the young subaltern, but his pleadings to be allowed to try the plan he had in mind were so earnest that at last his extraordinary request ««s granted. Hurriedly changing his clothes for those of a shepherd, he descended in that disguise to Gala Krini. •

A MIDNIGHT VENTURE. Late that night a number of figures stole through the dank alleys of the village towards ' the shore. Close to the? water's edge was an old boat-house, used as a shed for repairing boats. This the party silently entered, and by the flickering light o'f a taper searched the (black interior. At lengEb. there was a gentle rattle, and from the gloom emerged Hassan, stripped to the waist, dragging a heavy chain. This, with the help of his comrades, he began to pull, sind after half an hour's laborious work the end of the great chain—once the cable of a Turkish vessel—was readied.

From the beach the chain was loadod on board a large caique, whose sides and floor had been covered with thin cloth to deaden the sound. This task accomplished, three men got in with Hasimn and rowed with muffled oars towarus a large rook in the middle of the bight. •Round this rook the chain was laid and securely fastened. One man having been landed on the crag to keep guard over this end, the boat set out cautiously for the battleship, looming like a phantom in the distance. Not a sound did the men make as link by link the massive Chain was paid out over the stern into the still water. Newer and nearer thev approached the great vessel, which seemed to slumber upoii the oily surface of the gulf. Even the {sentry on duty dozed as he leaned on yhis musket, totally unconscious of what was going on not more than fifty yards from where he stood. In the dense .'shadow by the stern nothing was visible.

A DARING FEAT. There was an excited gleam in Hassan's eyes as, with a, sign to 'his comrades, he gradually lowered himself into the dank water, guiding himself ;by .passing his fingers over the .battleship's plates. A slight grating of the chain against the hull was all that his anxious companions in the boat heard', though now and then a reassuring pull was felt in the line that Hassan held; directing them to pay out the chain. Hours rather than minutes seemed to have gone by ere the young officer came to the surface; so exhausted by his long dive was he that he had to be almost lifted into the boat.

"It is round the propeller," he gasped. "I have fixed it so that nothing can move it. Back you go." Then link by link the tedious work' was renewed, until the 'boat returned to its starting point, where the other end of the caiWe was secured. The risKy task was done and the Hellenic battleship was securely moored 1 to an immovable rook by a double thickness of cable!

CAPTURED. The early rays of dawn revealed a sight which astonished the Greek commander. A whole regiment of Turks ■were on the march towards the 'Straits of Arta with train after train of artillery, the last of which disappeared before the ship's guns could flbe brought to (bear on them. The commander, however, lost no time, and gave orders for the guns to ibe run out and the decks cleared for action, while the anchor was weighed, his intention being to prevent the Turks from fortifying the. straits before they bad become too strong. "Full speed ahead!" Avent the order to the en-gine-room, and, propelled by her mighty screw, the battleship advanced—only to lurch backwards, as if dragged iby some force unseen. Work as the engines would, the vessel seemed to be in an enchanted circle, beyond which it was impossible to go. Again and again an effort was made, and when the bewildered captain reversed 'his engines he only met with the same disconcerting result.' It was not till the sun's rays had penetrated the deep blue water alongside that the secret was revealed, and the massive chain was discovered passing round the ship's propeller and the adjacent rock. Before it could be removed, -however, the straits had been sufficiently fortified by the Turks, and a powerful Oreek warship lay a helpless prisoner within the land-locked waters of Arta.