DESTROYING A U-BOAT.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 February 1919, Page 6

DESTROYING A U-BOAT.

.THE SIGHT OF A LIFETIME. The following interesting account of the destruction of a U-boat in the English Channel near Beachy Head, was received by Mr J. Herbert, of Kakaramea, from a relative in England, by the last Homo mail.

The writer says:—"ln August last I was sitting working at my bedroom window, and you know how high up our house is facing the English Channel. I noticed one dirigible airship hovering over one part of the sea for a long time, quite near in shore—really half a mile out. I had to go on with my sewing and forgot the episode- Suddenly there was a loud dull explosion. I instantly looked with the field glasses II a ways keep near me. The dirigible [had gone, but a great long snakey thing came out of the sea, as long as a Street. It was a TJ-boat. I called to some flying cadets (who were billeted next door), to hurry up to their room where a telescope was fixed- I was watching the U-boat all the time, it did not come up its entire height out of the sea. It remained like that about three minutes, then gradually subsided and when it had entirely disappeared, a black stuff floated Tip on the sea and a flock of seagulls settled round it The flying cadets said the black stuff was oil, and that the dirigible had dropped a depth charge over the U-boat. Lots of people of course saw it, it was daylight—but no local newspaper mentioned it- lam glad I sayf it, as I will not be able to go and see the miles of surrendered Üboats a few miles from here."