“Then I loosed one of my torpedoes at the middle ship. I was then
about twelve feet under water, and got the shot off in good shape, my
men handling the boat as if she had been a skiff. I climbed to the
surface to get a sight through my tube of the effect, and discovered
that the shot had gone straight and true, striking the ship, which I
later learned was the _Aboukir_, under one of her magazines, which in
exploding helped the torpedo’s work of destruction.
“There was a fountain of water, a burst of smoke, a flash of fires
and part of the cruiser rose in the air. Then I heard a roar and felt
reverberations sent through the water by the detonation. She had
been broken apart, and sank in a few minutes. The _Aboukir_ had been
stricken in a vital spot and by an unseen force; that made the blow all
the greater.
“Her crew were brave, and even with death staring them in the face kept
to their posts, ready to handle their useless guns, for I submerged at
once. But I had stayed on top long enough to see the other cruisers,
which I learned were the _Cressy_ and the _Hogue_, turn and steam full
speed to their dying sister, whose plight they could not understand,
unless it had been due to an accident.
“The ships came on a mission of inquiry and rescue, for many of the
_Aboukir’s_ crew were now in the water, the order having been given,
‘Each man for himself.’
“But soon the other two English cruisers learned what had brought about
the destruction so suddenly.
“As I reached my torpedo depth I sent a second charge at the nearest of
the oncoming vessels, which was the _Hogue_. The English were playing
my game, for I had scarcely to move out of my position, which was a
great aid, since it helped to keep me from being detected.
“The attack on the _Hogue_ went true. But this time I did not have the
advantageous aid of having the torpedo detonate under the magazine, so
for twenty minutes the _Hogue_ lay wounded and helpless on the surface
before she heaved, half turned over and sank.
“But this time, the third cruiser knew that the enemy was upon her and
she sought as best she could to defend herself. She loosed her torpedo
defense batteries on boats, starboard and port, and stood her ground as
if more anxious to help the many sailors who were in the water than to
save herself. In common with the method of defending herself against
a submarine attack, she steamed in a zigzag course, and this made it
necessary for me to hold my torpedoes until I could lay a true course
for them, which also made it necessary for me to get nearer to the
_Cressy_. I had come to the surface for a view, and saw how wildly the
fire was being sent from the ship. Small wonder that was when they did
not know where to shoot, although one shot went unpleasantly near us.