"7.55 A.M., July 20: Sighted hostile submarine three points on
port bow, distant 2500 yards--informed 'C 27,' and told her not to
slip yet. Hostile submarine steering across my bows. 7.56: Enemy
opened fire, apparently trying to hit trawler. Telephone to 'C 27'
broke down. 8.03 A.M.: Tow slipped. Enemy fired about seven shots
altogether. Employed trawler's crew in hoisting out boat, rushing
about the deck, and appearing to be in a panic. 8.10 A.M.:
Observed 'C 27's' periscope on starboard quarter attacking enemy.
8.12 A.M.: Observed 'C 27' fire a torpedo, which missed astern.
Cleared away starboard gun for action. Enemy opened fire again on
trawler, and commenced turning to port. I opened fire with my
starboard gun, hoisting white ensign at the main. At the same
moment second torpedo hit just abaft enemy's conning-tower. Column
of water and smoke rose about 80 feet high. As it cleared away 30
feet of bow of submarine at a large angle could be seen...."
The success of this scheme of U-boat hunting depended, of course,
entirely on the secrecy maintained as to its existence; it was
therefore unfortunate that the prisoners from U 23 were allowed to mix
with interned German civilians who were about to be repatriated--a
mistake which was excusable in the midst of the general confusion
caused in the authorities' minds by the change from peace to war. At
that date the disposal of prisoners was out of the Admiralty's hands,
and on this mistake being discovered, steps were taken that prisoners
having secrets to tell should be prevented from telling them to
Germany. The trawler scheme of hunting, however, had to be given up for
some time.
In 1916 U-boats again became active against the fishing fleets on the
Dogger, and C boats were again sent out to work with the trawlers. On
August 28, "C 29" (Lieut. Schofield), while being towed submerged,
struck a mine off the Humber and was lost with all hands. The method
was continued for a few more trips, but the U-boats being by then too
careful, it was abandoned before the end of the year.
There were eighteen German boats in all sunk by torpedoes from our
submarines, while others were hit but were able to get home. I will try
to imagine a typical case of submarine _v._ submarine, in order to
give an idea of what lies behind the bare despatches of the victors.