"At 9.30 A.M., June 23rd, I heard a report which I took to be
an explosive signal from trawler _Taranaki_ to show my
periscope, I being at 30 feet. I telephoned her for confirmation
and got the answer, 'Submarine 1500 yards on port bow'; and then
again, as trawler altered course, 'Submarine 1000 yards astern.'
"I gave the order to slip, but the slipping gear jammed in 'C 24.'
I then told _Taranaki_ to slip her end, which she did. I went
ahead, helm hard a-starboard, to attack submarine astern. The boat
immediately sank to 38 feet with 5° inclination, bow down. The trim
then took some time to adjust, as I had at that time 100 fathoms of
3-1/2-inch wire hawser, 100 fathom 8-inch coir hawser, and 100
fathom telephone cable hanging from the bows. Eventually sighted
enemy's conning-tower 1000 yards off. Closed to 500 yards,
manoeuvred for beam shot, and fired 9.55 A.M. Torpedo hit enemy
amidships. I then came to the surface and picked up 'U 40's'
Captain. My propeller then refused to move, and it was found that
there were 20 turns of telephone cable round the shaft...."
Lieut.-Commander Edwards (in trawler _Taranaki_) was, of course,
ignorant of the fact that "C 24" was somewhat hampered by these cables
hanging at the bow:--
"... 9.30 A.M., June 23rd: Enemy submarine rose and fired a shot
across my bows from 2000 yards range--shell burst 20 yards
ahead--informed 'C 24' by telephone. 9.45: Slipped _Taranaki's_
end of tow, as 'C 24's' slip had jammed. Got boat out to simulate
abandoning ship and panic. Saw 'C 24's' periscope pass, attacking.
9.55: Observed torpedo run and explode under conning-tower of
enemy. An officer and a petty officer the only survivors...."
Lieut.-Commander Dobson, in command of "C 27," has an abrupt and almost
_blasé_ report to make of his sinking of "U 23":--
"7.55 A.M., July 20th: Lieut. Cantlie in trawler _Princess Louise_
telephoned to me that a hostile submarine was in sight 2000 yards
on the port bow--telling me not to slip for a little while.
Telephone then broke down [_It would--of course_].
"At 8 A.M. I heard the sound of shots falling on the water and
decided to slip, which I did. Turned to starboard to get clear of
trawler and came to 18 feet for a look. Closed enemy to 500 yards,
and fired port tube at 8.12. As I fired I observed enemy start her
engines, and torpedo missed astern. I shifted my deflection and
fired the starboard tube. Torpedo hit the submarine just abaft the
conning-tower. I blew main ballast tanks and picked up seven
survivors (Captain, two officers, and four men). The weather being
too bad to get in tow again, I returned to harbour."