About January 15, 1915, we were on patrol duty in the North Sea. Near
daybreak we came across a number of German drifters, with carrier
pigeons on board, that were suspected of being in touch with submarines.
We were steaming in line abreast, and the order was signalled for each
ship to take one drifter in tow. Our Jerry objected to being towed to
England, and cut our tow-rope, causing us a deal of trouble.
Our captain was in a rage and shouted down from the bridge to the
officer of the watch, "Is there anyone on board who can speak German?"
The officer of the watch called back, "Yes, sir; Knight speaks
German"--meaning an officer.
So the captain turned to the bos'n's mate and said, "Fetch him." The
bos'n's mate sends up Able Seaman "Bogey" Knight, to whom the captain
says, over his shoulder: "Tell those fellows that I'll sink 'em if they
tamper with the tow again."
With a look of surprise Bogey salutes and runs aft. Putting his hands
to his mouth. Bogey shouts:
"Hi! there, drifterofsky, do yer savvy?" and makes a cut with his hand
across his arm. "If yer makes de cut agin, I makes de shoot--(firing an
imaginary rifle)--and that's from our skipper!"
[Illustration: "I makes de shoot."]
Bogey's mates laughed to hear him sprachen the German; but Jerry didn't
cut the tow again.--_E. C. Gibson, 3 Slatin Road, Stroud, Kent._