On board a destroyer in the North Sea in 1916. Look-out reports, "Sail
ahead, sir."
The captain, adjusting his glasses, was able to make out what at first
appeared to be a harmless fisherman.
As we drew nearer we could see by her bow wave that she had something
more than sails to help her along: she had power.
"Action Stations" was sounded, the telegraphs to engine-room clanged
"Full speed ahead." Our skipper was right. It was a German submarine,
and as our foremost gun barked out we saw the white sails submerge.
Depth charges were dropped at every point where we altered course.
Imagine our surprise to find the resulting flotsam and jetsam around us
consisted of trestles, boards, paint-brushes, boxes, and a hat or two,
which the crafty Germans had used to camouflage their upper structure.
The scene was summed up neatly by "Spikey" Merlin, A.B., a real product
of Mile End Road: "Lor' luv old Aggie Weston, we've run dahn the
blinkin' Calerdonian Markit."--_A. G. Reed (late R.N.), 15 William
Street, Gravesend, Kent._