SANK THIRTY SHIPS.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 October 1915, Page 9

SANK THIRTY SHIPS.

E7 IN THE SEA OF MARMORA. THE STORY OF HER VOYAGE. The Empire has rung with the story of the submarine E7, which pushed through tho Dardanelles and into the Sea of Marmora two or three months ago, and not only did tremendous damage among enemy shipping, but actually shelled a railway line, putting it out of use, and running trains. For this great feat the commander, Lieut. Cochrane, was given the V.C. The following graphic account of the submarine's "wonderful exploits was written by a young sailor on the vessel, and a copy of it was sent to Mr. Harry E. Farmer, of Sydney:— "Dear Dad, —We arrived back at our base outside the Dardanelles yesterday, after being away nearly a month in the Sea of Marmora. Our captain told us that we can say almost anything we like, but must not mention other ships, and one or two other things, the absence of which you may not notice in this letter "We got through the Dardanelles on the last day of June, and very soon sighted something that, from our point of view, should not be floating. Our gun sent her to the bottom in about ten minutes. We then towed the crew In their boat near to the shore, and there left them.

SINKING SAILING SHIPS AND STEAMERS. "When our captain went on board with a big automatic pistol they screamed and yelled and bowed and scraped and salaamed. We couldn't help laughing; they seemed awfully scared. These boats have a very grim and uncanny appearance, especially to half-heathen's, and we rise to the surface within 100 yards or so of them. The sailing ships soon went to the bottom, and a few shells soon wrecked the steamer's engine-room. Our second officer and one of the crew got severely burned when they were setting her on fire with petrol, and were laid up all the trip. I must mention that the ships run stores and all sorts of gear clown to the 'Dards.,' but they do n<!. risk tho troops now our 'subs.' are knocking about. Well, we very soon had destroyers on our tracks, and we gave them a dance. Some ships we sank right under their very noses, and dived just as one or two of them came dashing up; then, as we manoeuvred to get a torpedo at them, off they would go like billy-ho.

"It appears that they have little or no coal in Constantinople, and are using charcoal made from wood by people ait round the country, and this is run in big dhows, or sailing ships, for the use of the destroyers. These mostly got a small charge of guncotton into them, and up they go sky high. When we got near the shore the people opened fire with rifles, evidence of which we have on our casing and conning tower easing, which is all plastered with dents. We overhauled a great number of Red Cross steamers packed with wounded, which they are distributing all along the sea coast of Marmora. At the towns and villages there are thousands and thousands of them, so our 'Tommies' must have given them a warm time. They are towing up lighters full, also, with tugs, so goodness knows what it is like in their fighting areas if they have to take small barges to take them away in. The general opinion here is that the present situation will not last very long. There is no doubt about it. Our boats have thoroughly disorganised their sea traffic, and given them the utmost difh\ culty in getting troops and ammunition. They have now to travel around by land on the Asiatic side, which means hundreds of miles. Then they cross under the fort of Chenak in the Narrows. The narrow neck of the GaJlipoli Peninsula is dominated by our ships in the Gulf of Saros, as you will see by looking at the map. They manage to send a'few transports from Constantinople down the Gulf of Ismid, a narrow stretch of water about twenty miles long, and about as wide as the Thames at Gravcsend. We dived under the mines at the entrance, and our captain found that trains of stores and ammunition were running about to their hearts' content, so we 'set about 'em,' a3 Uncle Joe puts it.

SHELLING " MR. TRAIN." "We came to the surface, and our captain inspected the railway line, under rifle fire all the time; then we stopped, and the order 'up guns,' and the crew went below. Up jumped the jolly lads, and plenty of willing hands passed up shells all right. After a shot or two at the embankment, tons of stuff blocked the line. Away we went down the coast, and passed a train of nice heavylooking waggons. Presently we stopped again, and down went another embankment. 'Mr. Train' was now in a quandary, so we soon got back to him and shelled him till his waggons were s«y high. Another day we shelled a train in the same gulf, and blew his two after waggons to blazes, just as he was disappearing into a tunnel. It being rocky country, there are plenty of these. All the time the rifles were blazing away, but mostly we out-ranged them. "Another bright morning we discovered a big two-funnelled steamer in the bay alongside a railway station on the Asiatic side. She was protected by two sailing ships, and just a small bit of her. hull was visible. Our captain took careful aim and got a torpedo right in between the two sailing vessels, and blew up the whole lot, sailing ships as well. He was awfully pleased, as it was really a beautiful shot. The water went to a height of about .11)0 feet, and was still falling when two other members of our crew managed to have a look, by the captains' permission, through the' periscope. Then we went up on the surface, and steamed out of the baiy, so the jolly lads could see the damage. The whole town was in an uproar.

, AT CONSTANTINOPLE. "We also got up to Constantinople, and part of the way to the Bosphorus, alongside the arsenal at 'Constant.' We sent a destroyer and some ammunition lighters up. At the time of the explosion we were 60 feet under, finding our way out, and the noise was terrific, even to us, almost half a mile away, so goodness knows what it was like on the spot; and I'll gamble a few window went in 'Constant.' After this the destroyers left us severely alone, and the last few days there was hardly a thing to be seen except a few sailing ships chancing their luck, which soon went under. "WELL DOME, COCHRANE!" "Altogether, we sank about 30 ships, and gave them a jolly good shaking up. I We returned safely, and as we came through the big fleet of battleships (British and French), troopships, cruisers, etc., we were cheered to the echo from thouands of throats, with 'Well done, E7.' The Admiral came out to meet us on his launch, and shouted, 'Well done, Cochrane!' So we have evidently shaken things up for the Turks."