Chapter IV

I will conclude the accounts of typical submarine _v._ submarine engagements by the case of "E 34" (Lieutenant Pulleyne) and a U-boat off Harwich on the 10th May 1918.

"E 34" was returning to harbour after a trip. She was actually in the swept channel leading into Harwich, and could pretty well take it for granted that any vessel met with so near home would be friendly. As boats get near their base it is usual to begin the cleaning-up work which is so necessary after a trip, and to get ready generally for harbour routine again. "E 34" saw a submarine ahead steering north, and, treating her as hostile until her identity could be established, dived at once to attack. Fifteen minutes later Lieutenant Pulleyne, in no doubt at all about what his target's nationality was, fired both bow tubes and sank her. He then rose, and proceeded to pick up the only survivor, who happened to be the captain, and who was in pretty bad condition from shock and immersion.

Captain (S.), H.M.S. _Maidstone_, comments on the affair as follows:--

"I am pleased to be able to record that, with the two submarines
meeting end on--the one in enemy waters and the other just
returning to base after a somewhat difficult mine-laying
operation--it was the submarine which might have been expected
to have been least on the _qui vive_ which scored the success.
This reflects great credit on Lieutenant Pulleyne and his ship's
company, as it shows they were in all respects ready."

It is probable that this incident caused a number of our other officers secretly to wonder whether, in "E 34's" place, they would have been equally successful and prompt.

The captain of the U-boat was a charming prisoner. He was taken aboard the _Maidstone_ and put in a cabin under medical care. His clothes were dried and other clothes given him. When he had recovered he went off to a prisoners' camp, from whence he wrote peremptory letters to the _Maidstone_ officers accusing them of having stolen his waistcoat, and presenting a bill for its value if not instantly returned. The _Maidstone_ view of the matter was that they hadn't got his beastly waistcoat, didn't believe he'd ever had one, and wouldn't touch it with a barge-pole if he had. Considering they could not have treated him with more consideration if he had been one of themselves, and that incidentally they had saved his life--well, the Hun _is_ a queer person and we'll never be able to understand him.

The story of the sinking of "E 14" (Lieut.-Commander White) in the Dardanelles has already appeared in print, so I shall not tell it again. But the thought of German submarine officers leads to comparisons, and perhaps a submarine sailor had better give his views about it here:--

"Copy of letter received by H.M.S. _Adamant_ from Petty Officer R.
A. Perkins (late of S/M "E 14"), Prisoner of War, No. 5456,
Fabrique de Cement, Eski Hissar, Guebzeh, Asia Minor."

"DEAR SIR,--No doubt the officers and men of the _Adamant_ and
submarines would like to know what became of the captain and two
officers. I am very sorry to say that Mr White was almost blown to
pieces by a large shell which wounded three other men, and I
believe it killed Mr Drew, as I was with both of them. I saw the
captain's body, but nothing of Mr Drew, so I think he must have
been killed and fell into the sea. Mr Blasset was last seen in the
engine-room, so went down with the boat. It was a credit to us all
to think that we had such a brave captain, and, sir, if only I
could mention a few things about him; but owing to his coolness he
saved the boat half a dozen times. It is a great pity that no
officer was saved to tell the tale. I also mention A.B. Mitchell
and Signalman Trimbell for gallantry in diving overboard and saving
the life of Prichard, Ord. Tel., who was badly wounded, and would
have lost his life had it not been for both of these men keeping
him afloat until assistance arrived. I am glad to say that all men
that were wounded were sent to hospital ten minutes after being
captured, and were treated very well. The remaining five men,
except Stoker Reed, have had a bad attack of fever since being
captured. We are all sorry that so few men were saved, and, as I
have said, our gallant captain. This is all I have to report."

Being the senior survivor, Petty Officer Perkins reports as such. If his officers had lived I think it probable we would have heard something to the credit of Petty Officer Perkins.

The escape of Lieut.-Commander Cochrane from Asia Minor is being described in 'Maga.' The account of how he became a prisoner seems to indicate that he was not likely to remain a submissive captive:--

"6.30 A.M.: Passed Kilid Bahr at 200 yards--the periscope being
fired on by the forts without result.

"7.30: Sighted the buoys of the submarine net off Nagara Point.
Dived to 100 feet and increased to 7-1/2 knots.

"The bows cut through the net as the starboard propeller fouled
and stopped the starboard motor. Went hard-a-port and port motor
to full speed. Boat fell off to port and lay parallel to and much
entangled in the net. I tried to turn the boat's head to south and
pass through the net.

"8.30 A.M.: A mine exploded a few hundred feet from the boat, no
damage being done.

"After about two hours manoeuvring the boat was turned to the
southward, and repeated attempts to get clear were made at depths
of from 60 to 130 feet by going full speed ahead and astern. Boat
was now held by the net fore and aft.

"10.30 A.M.: A mine was exploded close to the boat. The explosion
was violent, but no damage was done to the hull. After this
explosion the boat was much freer than before, _and in the hopes
that further attempts to blow up the boat might result in
completely freeing her_,[2] I decided to remain submerged at a
good depth till after dark, when it might be possible to come to
the surface and clear the obstruction. Burned all confidential
papers.

[2] The italics are mine.--AUTHOR.

"By 2 P.M. battery power was much reduced and further attempts to
get clear were given up for a time.

"6.40 P.M.: A mine was exploded a few feet from the hull; the
explosion was very violent--electric lights and other small
fittings being broken. The motors were at once started in the hope
that the net had been destroyed; but this was not the case. The
presence of enemy craft on the surface having made it impossible
to come to the surface after dark and so clear the obstruction, I
decided to come up and remove the crew from the boat before
blowing her up. The boat was brought to the surface without
difficulty, and when the conning-tower was above water Lieutenant
Scaife went on deck to surrender the crew. Fire was immediately
opened on him from light guns on shore and three motor-boats which
were lying round 'E 7.' As soon as the excitement had died down
and the enemy officers had regained control of their men, two
motor-boats came alongside and the officers and men were taken off
without difficulty. This operation was carried out under the
orders of German submarine officers. The boat was sunk as soon as
she was clear of men, and a time-fuse having been fired,
subsequently blew up.

"Throughout the day the discipline and behaviour of the crew was
excellent. This was particularly noticeable at the time of the
third explosion. At this time the crew had been fallen out from
their stations, and many of them were asleep. On being called to
their stations every man went quietly to his place, although the
violence of the explosion was such as to convince every one that
the boat was badly damaged.

"... Petty Officer Sims, L.T.O., was in charge of the
after-switchboard, and continued throughout the day to work the
starboard motor, although much hampered by smoke and pieces of
molten copper, due to the damage received by the motor and
starting resistances while freeing the propeller."

Lieut.-Commander Cochrane attempted to escape, but after covering 200 miles was, with Lieut.-Commander Stoker of "AE 2," captured ten miles from the coast. They received a year's imprisonment, and on August 18, 1918, Lieut.-Commander Cochrane started his successful trip, accompanied by seven military officers, back to England.