INTO ZEEBRUGGE
The appointed time the _Monitor_ arrived with other units of the
American submarine fleet at the designated point off the English
coast, to which point the undersea flotilla had been ordered by
wireless. There, awaiting them, was the Admiral's flagship, and all
around her trim vessels flying the Stars and Stripes---"sentinels
of democracy."
In the fleet mobilized the _Monitor_ spoke several vessels that had
accompanied the _Dewey_ across the Atlantic on her first voyage into
the war zone; there, also, were many other submarines built in
American shipyards and now in commission in the North Sea activities.
It was a wonderful picture well calculated to stir the blood of
indomitable spirits like Jack Hammond and Ted Wainwright.
In response to a call from the flagship the _Monitor_ came alongside
and Lieutenant McClure with his executive officer and his aide went
aboard. From the Admiral himself they received warm commendation for
the heroic exploits of the converted U-boat, with special reference
to the individual deeds of Ensign Hammond and Ensign Wainwright.
"Permit me to present you two brave lads with these," said the American
Admiral as he took from his aide two official envelopes and handed
them to Jack and Ted. Saluting, the two boys took the communications
and stepped back beside their commander. The Admiral and Lieutenant
McClure withdrew and went below, leaving Jack and Ted on the forward
deck under the giant fifteen-inch guns of the battleship Pennsylvania,
flagship of the American North Sea fleet.
The Brighton boys proceeded to open the official documents and found
commissions signed by the Secretary of the Navy delegating to them the
rank of first lieutenant, U.S.N.
Needless to say both boys were quite elated over their rare good
fortune. It was, indeed, a moment for elation, considering their
short term of service in the navy. Each had won his spurs in the
great arena of service through devotion to duty and the flag and by
exercising that rare courage and initiative that has characterized
the fighting men of the U.S. Navy.
"I'm glad for the sake of dear old Brighton that we have made good,
aren't you, chum?" asked Jack.
"You've said it, old boy!" answered Ted.
And then the lads for a moment digressed from the great war to talk of
dear old "room 63" back there on the third floor of the dormitories
under the campus oaks, with the lights of the town gleaming at night
from the windows. It was the first time they had approached anything
like "homesickness" as each confessed he would like once more to stroll
up the campus and "see the boys."
Pretty soon Captain McClure emerged from amidships with the Admiral and
after a formal exchange of courtesies the officers of the _Monitor_
went over the side of the Pennsylvania and back to the submarine.
Captain McClure was engrossed in thought and as soon as he and his
staff arrived on the _Monitor_ he beckoned them to follow him below.
"Very important news, boys," he began.
"The department has ordered a concerted attack on Zeebrugge. The
allied armies have been making a successful drive in Flanders designed
at getting in behind the German U-boat bases. It seems to be the
consensus of opinion among the naval strategists of our own country,
as well as in England and France, that the only way to stop the
German submarine is to cut off the Germans at their naval bases.
That is the aim of the land drive, and now it is the navy's turn."
He paused for a moment, and then continued:
"But now, to be more explicit. Here are the orders that I have just
received from the Admiral, in conference with other American and
English naval commanders. A picked fleet from the allied navies has
been selected for the attack on Zeebrugge. Our American submarines
are to lead the way. We are expected to worm our way inside the
enemy port and open the attack, Then the battleships will open fire
on the coast fortifications.
"I'll give you a bit of information that you probably don't know. In
the _Monitor_ when she was captured in the U-boat base below
Blankenberghe---thanks to Mr. Hammond's courage and initiative---was
found a complete chart of the approach to Zeebrugge. Mines, nets,
and other impediments all marked off."
"We think we have the key to the situation in that chart."
Captain McClure---who had attained that rank at the time Jack and Ted
were made lieutenants---further explained that he had been designated
in command of the ten American submarines that were to launch the
spectacular attack. He said he would give his attention almost solely
to fleet maneuvers and leave the handling of the _Monitor_ to his
lieutenants.
"We will do our best, sir," said Jack, as he squared his shoulders.
The attack was to be staged the following night. Now for the next
twelve hours or so the crews of the selected warships were carefully
to prepare for the fray and to rest themselves.
The _Monitor_ was put in tiptop shape. Tenders came alongside and
gave her stores of fuel and ammunition. The giant torpedo tubes were
loaded and the ship's full quota of reserve torpedoes taken aboard.
The night and following day were given over to leisure hours. Jack
and Ted wrote letters home and to school telling of their promotions
and some of their latest exploits.
At nine o'clock of the following evening the submarine fleet received
the word to be off.
The attack was planned to be started at one o'clock in the morning
under the cover of darkness. Keeping in close touch, the submarines
spread out over the sea like a huge fan. Behind them at a distance of
five miles moved the supporting column of dreadnoughts, battle cruisers,
destroyers, scouts and mine sweepers---units in the great fleet bent
upon the task of smashing the German stronghold.
The _Monitor_ led off in the battle array. Copies of the chart of
Zeebrugge, the original that had been found on the converted U-boat
at the time of her capture, had been given to every submarine skipper
in the fleet. Each had his orders for this all-important night.
"Here we go!" murmured McClure to his aides as he signaled his fleet
of submarines forward into the fray.
Picking his way according to the German chart, he set a zigzag course.
At length the officers of the _Monitor_ knew they were closing in,
and so far successfully. The submarines were running submerged
with only the tips of their periscopes showing.
All at once there appeared in the sky directly ahead of the _Monitor_
a line of red lights. A German birdman, circling above on patrol duty,
had observed the wake of the periscopes and had touched off a night
flare.
Like a giant pyrotechnic display the red globules floated in the air.
No sooner had the light appeared than there came the boom of a big gun
on shore and a huge shell screeched seaward over the _Monitor_.
Instantly the coast defense guns of the Germans crashed into action.
And now, from the rear of the _Monitor_ and her consorts, came the
answering crash of the great guns on the mighty ships of the Allies.
The furious battle was on!
German aviators, having sighted the American submarines, were bending
all their energies on wiping out the "invisible mosquitoes." Guided
only by the telltale wake of the periscopes, they were dropping huge
depth bombs at random. One of them splashed into the sea directly
astern of the _Monitor_.
"We will have to act quickly now," urged McClure as he rang for full
speed.
So far, so good; not a mine had been encountered. The _Monitor_ was
worming her way unmolested into the heart of the enemy stronghold!
Convinced now that he had passed the guardian line of nets and mines,
McClure decided to dive and run for the inner recesses of the enemy
harbor. Now down, out of sight, out of hearing of the big guns, the
_Monitor_ relentlessly pursued her course, flouting the danger that
lurked on every hand.
At last came the moment when the commander of the submarine flotilla
decided to climb to the surface and make an observation.
With every man standing to his post of duty and every nerve strained
for the next move, the signal to pump out ballast was given and the
_Monitor_ turned her diving rudders to ascend. Soon her periscopes
thrust their eyes out of the depths.
"Look! there, off our port bow!" exclaimed Jack to his chief.
McClure saw it, too, at the same moment---a giant German battle
cruiser lying broadside to the harbor entrance and every gun belching
forth fire at the allied fleet outside!
Responding to the control of her commander, the _Monitor_ swung off
sharply to port and drove straight for the cruiser.
McClure's right hand groped for the torpedo button as he sighted
on the German battle cruiser. He released a torpedo!