TRUE STORY OF THE
BARALONG,”.
.
THR HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18mm, 1916.
THE SINKING OF THE **YABUKUNI MARU.”
EXPERIENCE DESCRIBED BY THE
CAPTAIN.
GERMAN SLANDER REFUTED. If the suggestion made by Bir Edward Grey that the circumstances surrounding the sinking by II.M. Barolong of the German submarine which on August 18th of last year attacked the steamship Nicosia should be made the subject of inquiry by e noutrel tribunal, together with the details of the sinking by the same submarine of the Arabic, and two other German senchuria Daily News:→ crimes, the evidence of two American citi. rents now staying in Blackpool will be of vital importance, says the Daily News of January 10th,
Capt. T. Kamada, of the Yasukuni 31aru, torpedoed last autumn by a sub marine in the Mediterranean, has sent from Melilla, Morocco, a letter to the Marine Office, Dairen, giving therein full particulars of the affair. The letter rung in substance as follows, saya the Man.
They are Corporal T Carson and Driver WE. Dompany both of the 3/1st West Lancashire R.F.A. They were members of the Nicolian's crew during the voyage which was interrupted off Lundy Island by the submarine attack, and joined the British Army on arriving in this country after that trip.
Those men to-day told me their stories separately, and in essential particulars what each man related agreed with the story of the other. Both contradict entirely the statement, made in America by six other members of the Vicosian's crew as to the oonduct of the men on the Haraling when the submarine had received the shot which
wank ber:
She was taken up on time-charter by an American firm of New York on Septem. ber 18th last and left there on October oth for Salonika, laden with 7,000 tons of gen. She touched on the way at eral cargo. the port of St. Michael, of the Azores Teland, for coaling purposes, and arrived Ꮏ Gibraltar on October 22nd, where she discharged 600 tons of cargo. Just prior to her departure therefrom she was ad- vised by the British authorities to put her intended sailing in the Mediterranean and was advised to lie at nachor at the North End, off Gibraltar. At 6 am, En November 2nd she resumed her voyage at a speed of about ten nautical miles hour.
off
per
While sailing at a point twenty miles west of Alboran Island, Spanish pes session, at 4.42 p.m. on the same day, the Japanese steamer was suddenly for. pedoed by an enemy submarine, which have in sight about one nautical mile behind board were smashed to pieces.
*TER SHIPPING MUDDLE.
[BY DAVID G. PINKMET.]
Mr. Finkney the senior partner of the firm of 9. 6. Pinkney & Co., shipowners and abip- brokers, of 9, Burs Court, St. Mary Axe, London, and is one of the most prominent persoonlities in Landon shipping aircios. He has long been member of the Baltin Exchange.
"Had a committee of jour or five ship owners been appointed to deal with transports I believe many millions of pounds might have been attard."-LORD JOICEY, House of Lords, November 10th
1915.
"One of the curse, of the rise in the cost of shipping necessaries in the enor. mone expanse in shipping freights due to the huge number of ships of the mar cantile maring taken over by the Adm rally; the shipping experts were not given a free hand, and they were over ruled by the Admiralty authorities,”— SIB J. WALTON, House of Commons. November 10th, 1915.
18
SCOUTING IN
RUSSIA,
A HAZARDOUS ENTERPRISE,
WEIRD NIGHT EXPERIENCE.
There was to be au important scouting
JAVA-CHINA JAPAN LIJN
REGULAR FORTNIGHTLY SERVICE BETWEEN JAVA, CHINA AND JAPAN.
EIPNOTED WILL LEAVE
ON OF ABOUT
BULANTA
FROM
expedition. T. N. had already been twice wounded, in the hand and in the chest, and ss adjutant of the regiment the could not to-night's werk was to be educational, and often indulge his taste for scouting. But several of the younger ofhoers were to go; TJITAROEM.
TN. was to lead them. The first thing was to surrey the ground; and we went down, to the tronches in the morning; the TJILATJAF covered way was in some places full of water, and we made some little dashes cross the open. It was easy enough to get a good view of the open space, which was here some four or five hundred yards broad, Wo came back and rested till midnight.
It was a cloudy night with a thin drizzlo, and more rain in the air. T.N. and I drove, nearly upsetting against stumps of trees. The rest rode, and H., the young projector officer, toid of an interminable. night journey over marsh country with a Jew, who kept saying he would die, and a peasant who mande little eurious ejacula- tions of surprise and interest.. At the trenches we found the men standing its the darkness with bayonets gleaming.", T.N. made the objects clear, there was to be discovery, but they were to get as close all the detail that they could about his line of defence. Drastic measures were taken against the possibility of any chance shot on our side The party filed off.
Both come from Nashville, Tennessee. her larboard. Two lifeboats; at, the let through bad steering, would you still as possible to the enemy and bring back i
They have joined the British Army from love of adventure and belief in the cause of Britain, Neither had had much experience of ship's work prior to joining the Nic gian at New Orleans at the beginning of August of Inst year, Carson then shipped as night watchman over the males which the ship was bringing to Avonmouth, and Dempsry as mesboy.
CARSON'S STORY.
As to the events which preceded the actual attack by the submarine, neither Carson nor Dempsey can speak, as neither of them was on deck until the word went Found that a submarine was holding up their ship. Carson's story, beginning at this point, is as follows:-
I took in the situation at a glauco," continues Capt, Kamada, All the neces sary documents and papers belonging to the steamer were taken by myself, and all the officers and crow left the ship in two boats as the starboard. At 5-30 p.m, our steamer went down. By this time the sub- marine overtook our boats and some of the German crew seized all our documents, Then the submarine disappeared in the twilight. Our boats went adrift at the mercy of the waves, and at 8.20 on the fol- lowing morning we were relieved to, desery an island abead of us.
·ÁTTÁCK BY NATIVES.
We palled at our bars with might and main, and landed on the island, which was no other than Alboran Island off the wertbera coast of Africa in the Mediter rantau. The island was, however, unin habited and it was impossible for ty to get a supply of provisions. After a short rest we left there at 7.30 am, for Melilla Morocce, situated forty miles Loath.
The weather was bright and calm,
but our boats could make no headway owing to the absence of favourable wind. Night wore on and hunger and fatigue began to tell oв us.
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"Don't speak to the Man at the Wheel" You are only a passenger in the ship of State and must not interfere, even though you do happen to own
timberbend in her yourself. But if despite his sou'wester and other wise faultles
you should find get-up," the man is only a landlubber" after all who has never been to sea hefore, and josing millions of your company's money remain silent and trust to fuck?.
The limit has now been reached in the Transport Department of the Admiralty, and it is time to break silence about it. I quote above the considered statements of
They were not gone many minute, before" eminent men in both Houses of Parliament
a rocket went up from the German lines, who have studied the subject, which are followed by a shot. As this came from the series enough by themselves, but are fully confirmed by business man with life-side where our Bich had gone, there was no long experience in the chartering and doubt that they were discovered; but to management of aleamers. Huge sums of our surprise. there followed complete money have been squandered by Govern silence; only the rockets kept rising and ment officials owing to their want of ship-falling, generally in pairs, which diverge ping knowledge, and every proposal to further and further outwards from each KARIMOEN... replace the incompetents by engaging a other, Then there came the burst of staff of pro
The officers in properly qualified shipping experts several hand-grenades. has been turned down by the authorities. charge of the rear of the party ent for their TJIKEMBANG But this not all,
great-coats; I went out to our own wire The reckless and indiscriminate manner en anglements, but there was nothing more in which thousands of steamers have been to be heard; it was four or five hours that requisitioned and are still being requisie had waited, and the rest of us went
to sleep in a mud hut. toned has so depleted the supply of ton- nage for commercial purposes that ocean freights have now reached the highest level within
WHAT THEY FOUND
I was asleep in my quarters on this afternoon, and was awakened by someone who called out that a submarine had signalled us. I hastily went on deck, and there gut ny lifebelt, and, order, having
I woke up to find the party returned, Tiving memory, and the competition been given that we should take our places
on the part of merchants for vessels has and T.N. lying beside me. As wo had sup- n our lifeboats, I went to Stand 1 I bad bren nasigned to, but found it had already
become something hardly distinguishable posed, they were heard at the very start from a gamble, the British consumer being through a movement among the reeds in the been lowered. I thereupon west to the No,
front of the German line. The bombs which 2 boat. The submarine was plainly visible
the innocent victim. I will just give que typical ease in order to illustrate my story.
were thrown at them had done no damage. Just before the war the rate of freights But the constant illumination had some. on our stern something over a mile away.
By this time one of our boats was mis- I heard samo talk about another ship hay sing. Luckily the other boat, in which I
on grain from the Argentine to the United es compelled them to lie for half an hour ing been sighted coming towards us, and a man who had been using binoculars said she was, managed to make Melilla shortly after Kingdom was 12%, el. per ton whs in one place, without even raising the hend,
however: was flew the American flag, I saw this sain midnight, and we immediately applied to cure for the carrier.
a quite unremunerative
By Monday, A small group had been left behind, and November 9th, it had risen to 00s. on served as a rallying-point, from which the both thea and later, but saw no American the Government authorities for protection. The missing boat went adrift and ar- flag. I will not say anything with corrived at the African coast near Melilla Thursday, December 2nd, to 10%, and on rest branched out in different directions. Saturday last the fabulous rate of 1178.One or another, they had succeeded in ex- tainty on this point, except that when the and the crew landed there. The party od was paid for, a ready steamer. The ploring a whole section of the enemy's front, Baratong opened fire she undoubtedly flow were suddenly attacked by African natives. the British dag. That I am absolutely cer- who took them for pirates, and one of the last-baned figure is equivalent to 24s, per and had found it in some respecte less strong. sailors was shot in the abdomen and no quarter of 480lb, and, according to Mr. than they had expected. We got back by tain about,
Runciman, President of the Board of seven in the morning, and slept for the best "But, to get back to my main store. I ther was also wounded. They ate Bud Trade, "every change of id. in the price part of the day. ultimately got into the last lifebent to leave, off in a boat, leaving the chief mate and
of the 4b, loaf erresponds to about 4. the Nicusion, and the skipper, Captain three others on the coast to care for the
4id, per quarter of wheat. It follows, Marning, followed as the last man in Iwounded,
6.30 m on November 5th, the therefore, that the freight being paid on had seen a lot of him during the exciting time which had just passed. He was cool drifting boat was sighted by a Spanish whent to-day from the River Plate,
irrespective of the cost of the grain itself, equivalent 2id, per lb. loaf all the time. The first shot from the sub-fishing sailor, which received them on When board and safely brought them to Melilla marine I was not present to see,
of bread. The proportion which the freight contributed before the war was only Id. the second of them, however, struck ouro join the other party.
per loaf
wireless apparatus. a piece of it flew down to where I was below, So I knew all about the shots, As the lifeboat pulled away there were inore shots, and I felt sure that the Germans meant to sink our boats and us with them. Our boat came in betweeen the submarino and the Barulong, which was Bow not far away from the Micorian, and again we seemed to have a very hot time,
shells passing very near to us. Perhaps
CAPTAIN M'BRIDE.
Carson here pointed out that the men who had best opportunity of seeing what the crew of the Baralong did afterwards were those who, like himself, passed back to the Nicosian, where, according to the story given in America, members of the sub marine crew who had swum to the Nicosian and taken refuge on hor, were hunted out
and shot.
The Baralong," he continued, "was made fast to the toasian afterwards, and
sunk,
DEMPSEY'S STORY..
We had seen the ship which later we found to be the Baralong coming across to wards us. We thought she was more easy stuff for the submarine. I saw no American flag on her. The shells from the submarine were singing around us, some of them so close that we could smell them. I felt sure In all I they meant to sink our lifeboat. counted fourteen shots, some while we were on the Nicosian and a number when we were pulling away.
"The submarine also fired at the Bara
IB
to
A CASE FOR INQUIRY.
I returned with T.N, to the division, He loved his work, and spoke of his feel- ing towards it. At first he regarded risks as risks, and took no more notice of them. When he returned, after being shot through the chest and wounded in one lung, he felt fog a few days e repugnance to being under fire, but this soon passed away. At this dark time, like everyone else in the ermy,
ARAKAN...
From
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For
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11th April
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Hongkong, 14th February, 1916.
BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE, TELEPHONE No. 36. AGMETS,
AND ENGINEERING CO. OF HONGKONG, LTD. TAIKOO DOCKYARD, HONGKONG. SHIPBUILDERS. SALVORS AND REPAIRERS. BOILERMAKERS BRASS AND IRON FOUNDERS, CONSTRUCTIONAL ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERS. WELDING AND CUTTING OF METALS BY OXY-ACETYLENE AND ELECTRIC SYSTEMS. Estimates given for quick construction and repair of Ships, Engines, Boilers, Railway Rolling Stock, Bridges, and all Classes of Engineering Iron and Wood Work. GRAVING DOCK-787' by 86. by 54' 6"
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The shipowner, however, is not to blame he could think of no other end but com Dempsey saw the incidents of the attack in this matter notwithstanding the slan-plete victory, even if it took twenty years derous allegations made against him by to get it. We had sacrificed too many lives ignorant agitators. Ho can hardly con to admit of anything else; and, indeed, this from a differont position from Carson..
"I was in the galley," he stated, "when trol market fluctuations any more than the regiment had borne enormous losses. I may the first shot from the submarine was fired clerk of the weather can produce sunshine add that since my return I have found it to
**Capt, Manning was directing the move or min. Let me explain,
be a real source of pleasure to Russia to ments on deck. The guys who signed state
There is no legal tariff of freight know, from the speeches of our Ministers ments in America that he was excited don't charges by steamer, they vary in strict and others, that the invasion of Hast Pros THE TAIKOO DOCKYARD they were intended for the Baralang,
About this time the submarine was know the meanings of words. He was quite accordance with the laws of demand and sia and all the other chivalrous efforts of close to the Nicosian, into which she had cool, He shouted to the men standing to supply, and may be very high, though Russia to relieve the pressure in the West, been firing, and our lifeboat was not far their positions near the lifeboats, Don't they are usually very low. Now suppose are realized to their fall value in England. From the division I passed back to the away. I saw some of the men on the sub-put on lifebelts or get in the hosts till Itaxicab fures fluctuated in a similar way. marine line up with small
arms, and give the order. Some of us had our belts and were not controlled by law and that thought they were going to pot at us. But on, and we kept them on. However, a me. the Government suddenly commandeered corps, When I asked General M. how he ment later when we heard another shot the the bulk of those vehicles. There would had slept, he said, "Not very well with things suddenly altered through the un expected fire from the Baralong, and we order was given to take to the boats, and be no need for the drivers to increase their this." He had adopted a little refuge, boy watched the submarine go under from her got into No. 5, a spare host. We pulled aros. The public, in their auxiety to from Poland, two years old and looked secure the remaining taxicabs, would bid after the child himself, until he could send furiously to get out of the suction, for we
up against one another and a fictitious him to his wife. I accompanied little shots. Afterwards wo were taken on board felt sure that the Nicosian would soon be market, would be at once treated. That Vladek on part of his journer, and visited the Baralong"
is precisely how the shipowner stands to the young wounded Engineer in hospital. day Merchants, hungry for tonnage, are On my way to the Staff of the army, I tumbling over each other and increasing passed some of the Caucasians; one of the their freight limits almost hour by hour. privates gave me a great account of the But if it were found, as is generally be crossing of the Vistula at Kozienice, and rothe march on Cracow, It was very vigorous, lieved is possible, that numbers quisitioned steamers could be released by and ended with an amusingly simply expres the Government, a welcome change would sion, which is worth quoting. I had asked come over the freight markowe, which would whether the men were in good spirits, and gradually subside as tonnage again ho the answer was: Well, at present things came available for domestic requirements. look bad, so the spirit is that we must fight I maintain that this is a cost for found for several years, Our general impression diate inquiry, and if it should be Captain M'Bride, her commander, ordered Ung, which bad by this time got on the that the Admiralty requirements can be is that the Germans are moving backwards. a search of the Nicosian to soe if she was other side of us. At this point I saw the served with a smaller number of vessels than they now have under requisition, still seaworthy. I am perfectly sure he British flag on the Baralong. I also saw and these are ones more appropriated to never said anything in the way of a com that she was broadside on to the submarine, air basic purposes, a serious outlook will mand that if any Germany were found and next moment the guns which the Bara have been averted. But time pressen. aboard none of them was to escape death.long carried opened fire. Three shots did Meanwhile the business of handling No such words at * Take no prisoners' were | for the submarine.
those thousanda of cargo and passenger uttered
steamers a highly technical business I was quite close to him at this time,
quiring a long apprenticeship-is in the Boma of the marines and some of the I saw Germans in the water when the hands of officials who have not been Nicosian's crew went aboard her, I was submarine had sunk, but there was no firing trained to the work and are not even. one of the latter, I was, indeed, one of at them from the Baralang I did not nee proper touch with each other, and conse the few who remained on the Nicosian that anyone swim to the Nicosian. I doubt quently things occur every day which night, gaw no shooting of anyone on whether anyone did. I heard nothing about stagger the imagination of the shipowning board There were sounds of shots, but I any Germans getting up her ropes, community. How could it be otherwise! have the best of reasons for knowing what As to the story told in America about It is true that a few quite a few ship these were,
Many of the mules were Captain M'Bride of the Baralong shaking owners have 1stely been called in to tender frightened, some were wounded. The wound-hands with his crew and being elated-that's their advice to the officials, but, without ed ones I shot and in my judgment the story pretty trimming. It did not occur, I saw of shooting Germans was had climbed on Captain M'Bride, and stayed sear to him the Nicosian has all arisen from the reports of guns heard when the males were put, ont of misery. I wan on the Vision all that night and saw no evidence that any human being had been shot,
"As to the statements that men on the Baratong shot at Germans in the water or shot the submarino captain when he was swimming to the Buralong, I saw no such us occurrence I saw men from the submarinė The story that the submarine captain fall into the water, but I am perfectly sure swau to our ship and was shot in the water no one on the Baralong shot at them while was news to me when I read it in the news they were the story papers beer port of clerk good muwledge the Nicotian's carpenter rushed to Captain sort took place "--- Manning and gleefully told him he had Dempsey added that High over and Cos shot a German on the Nicosian is, I believe, by, two of the American witnesses, had a quite untrue. I neither saw nor heard of grudge against English members of the any such thing."
Nicosian's crew
NO FIRING AT SWIMMERS,
from the moment we were taken from our lifeboat on to the Baralong, which was just after the submarine sank, Captain M'Bride was busy about one thing only that was getting us safely aboard. In going down the Nicosian's ropes I had bruised my pain, and be sent for ointment for me. A real white man he showed himself to all of
in
coals being bought at Gibraltar at 576. 6d, per ton which could be purchased later on the voyage at 145. per ton or yessels innumerable being kept up to four months or more lying practically idle. Such things are everyday experiences.
It
The tremendous work which has suddenly descended on the shoulders of Govetra ment officia's unaccustomed to shipping has bewildered them, and things will not mend until a reconstruction of the Do partment is taken in hand. A Board of Central Control-all chipping men-under a president of ripe experience is the first and most important consideration. the excellent should have the entire direction of all casting any reflection on gentlemen chosen for the work theirs has transport work, and to it avery Depart been the labour of Sisyphus. You cannot ment should be subordinate and respon host a septic wound with court plaster sible. The Admiralty and the Board, of while the poison remain in the system. Trado would then lay their daily require. The offcials themselves should all be ments before the board and leave them with shipping experience and not merely to carry them out. Sub-departments would be established, for requisitioning, persons versed in Government routine.
coaling, and other necessary purposes, and cach would be in charge of men thoroughly trained to their respective Were this suggestion carved passenger Jutics; such men gan be obtained from the would never see expensive steamers sent 10.000 miles in ballast to offices of shipowners at the various poris exchange load boavy cargo when cheap and suitable and from the premier shipping on cargo vessels could be obtained ready to of the world--namely, the
A BOARD OF CENTRAL CONTROL
never have a steamer being sent from of shipping work. Lastly and in accord Cardiff to a port in Scotland with coal ance with practice in every largo and arriving back at Cardiff after fourness concern, all Departments should he month absence with 800 tons of her linked up with one another to ensure the original cargo still on board. You would despatch which is so conspicuously lacking never hear of 500 tons of reserve bunker in Government offices.
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Hongkong, 9th February, 1916