A FIGHT TO A FINISH
TWENTY-FOUR hours later the "Heracles" arrived at her appointed
station, where she relieved her sister-ship the "Proteacius," the
latter having to return to replenish her bunkers. Hull down to the
nor'ard, her position indicated by a thin haze of smoke upon the
skyline, was another British cruiser. Yet another was just visible to
the south'ard. These were but a few of the far-flung line that was
systematically closing upon the fugitive German ships.
It was realised that the chase might be a prolonged one. In spite of
elaborate precautions, it was quite possible for the hostile craft to
elude detection for a considerable period. That they were within
measurable distance was evident by the fact that the wireless
messages between the various British cruisers were continually being
"jammed" The Germans, by dint of throwing out wireless "waves," were
thus able to interrupt seriously long-distance communication between
their pursuers.
Just before midnight a destroyer came within flashlight-signalling
distance of the "Heracles." Her message, given in code, was as
follows: "'Heracles,' 'Castor,' and 'Pollux' to proceed. Investigate.
In event of falling in with enemy, engage until supported by
'Ponderous' and 'Thunderbolt.'"
Due west tore the "Heracles," under forced draught. Morning revealed
the presence of the "Castor," seven miles to her starboard beam. The
"Pollux" was approximately at the same distance from the "Heracles,"
but well on her port quarter.
It was a beautiful morning. The sun, rising in a grey sky behind a
bank of mist, threw its rays aslant the long rollers of the Atlantic.
Ahead the horizon was unbroken. Not a trace could be discerned of the
enemy.
At eight bells the wireless jamming suddenly ceased. Did it mean that
other units of the squadron were engaging the German cruisers? A
far-flung general call received the reply that as yet the enemy had
not been sighted.
Half an hour later the "Heracles" picked up a wireless message from
one of the fugitives to the other. Most remarkably it was not in
code, and was as follows:
"'Lemburg' to 'Stoshfeld': am making my way northward. Endeavouring
to fetch Reykiavik. Course presumably clear."
To which the "Stoshfeld" replied: "Concur: will attempt to rejoin you
at Reykiavik."
[Illustration: A BATTLE CRUISER SQUADRON]
The message was obviously a "blind," sent out in the vain hope that
the British ships would speed northward to prevent the fugitives
entering Danish waters and thus claiming internment in Iceland.
Accordingly the "Heracles" signalled to her consorts to shape a
course to the south-west and to refrain from using wireless until
further orders.
Tressidar had just relieved another sub. for duty in the fire-control
platform when a strange sail was sighted two points on the starboard
bow. Helm was accordingly altered to a course shaped to bring the
cruiser close to the recently sighted vessel.
It did not take the "Heracles" long to get within easy telescopic
distance. The craft was apparently a large tramp with two stumpy
masts and two funnels. She was steaming slowly in an easterly
direction, and was consequently almost bows-on to the British
cruiser.
She made no attempt to alter her course, and when the "Heracles"
hoisted a signal, "What ship is that?" she replied in the
International Code making her number, port of departure and
destination.
Reference to the code-book proclaimed the tramp to be the s.s.
"Scoopcash" of Liverpool, northward bound from Montreal. Almost
immediately another hoist of bunting fluttered from her foremast
head, quickly followed by others, until the complete signal read:
"Have been chased by large German cruiser. Lat. 45º 17' N., Long.
20º 5' W. Hostile vessels abandoned pursuit and made off to the nor
west."
Tressidar had his telescope levelled on the merchantman. The vessel
having slightly ported helm was approximately five thousand yards
distant.
"Jolly rummy!" he soliloquised. "Is it fancy, or did I see those
topsides bulge?" He lowered the glass, rubbed his eyes, then looked
again.
"I say, Picklecombe," he remarked, addressing a midshipman, "just
bring your telescope and bear upon that vessel's hull. See anything
out of the usual? I may be mistaken but----"
The midshipman, quick to act, had already levelled his telescope.
"By Jupiter!" he exclaimed. "If she hasn't dummy bulwarks I'm a
lubber."
The sub. promptly telephoned to the bridge, expressing his doubts as
to the bona-fides of the s.s. "Scoopcash," with the result that a shot
was fired within fifty yards of her bows and the peremptory signal to
heave-to for examination hoisted from the "Heracles'" signal yardarm.
With the discharge of the cruiser's gun a sudden change took place on
board the supposed tramp. For full a hundred feet aft from her bows a
canvas screen dropped, revealing a for'ard turret with two 9.4-in.
guns, and smaller turrets, each mounting a 5.9-in. quick-firer.
A succession of vivid flashes leapt from the disguised vessel's decks
and half a dozen heavy shells hurtled perilously close to the British
cruiser.
Her opponent was the "Stoshfeld." On finding their retreat cut off,
the German crew set to work to transform the outward appearance of
the ship. This was effected by raising canvas stretched on poles
around the fo'c'sle and poop, thus giving the look of a continuous
line of bulwarks level with the permanent superstructure amidships
The cruiser's sides were then given a coat of black paint. The next
step was to do away with the unmistakable military masts. The fore
and main topmast were accordingly struck, the lower masts being
demolished by the use of small charges of explosives. The topmasts
were then set up, thus giving the appearance of the "sticks" of a
merchantman. The centre one of the three funnels was also knocked
away, and those remaining were painted red with black tops.
This work having been accomplished, the "Stoshfeld" steamed
southward, with the intention of making a South American port. Here,
all being well, she could transfer her lighter armament to some of
the nominally interned German merchantmen, and the latter could then
slip out to sea as armed commerce destroyers.
Unfortunately for her, the "Stoshfeld" sighted a squadron of United
States cruisers, and mistaking them for British vessels, doubled back
this time on a south-westerly track until she blundered across the
"Heracles."
The secret was out. The German cruiser had to fight or surrender; and
she chose the former alternative.
For the time being the "Heracles," being unsupported by her consorts,
who were far on her quarter, had to engage single-handed her more
powerfully armed antagonist. It was an action in which gunnery was
the supreme factor. The two vessels were beyond effective torpedo
range, while neither had the assistance of bomb-dropping aircraft or
the deadly-sneaking submarine.
Almost the first shell from the hostile cruiser struck the "Heracles"
twenty feet for'ard of the fore-turret. Her protected belt saved her,
but practically the whole of the fo'c'sle was wrecked. Viewed from
the fore-top the scene following the tremendous upheaval resembled a
ship-breaker's works. The deck was ripped up like cardboard, and the
crews of the two 12-pounder quick-firers were literally blown to
pieces. Another shell, missing the foremast by a few feet, pulverised
the foremast funnel and wrought havoc on the spar deck.
The "Heracles'" reply was a stern one. With one terrific salvo her
guns simply swept the German cruiser's decks. Her top hamper
disappeared as if by magic. The two remaining funnels crashed over
the side, falling across the shields of a couple of 6-inch
quick-firers and putting the weapons out of action. The painted
canvas burst into flames, and, burning furiously, obscured the German
gun-layers' vision, while 'tween decks dense columns of smoke were
pouring through jagged holes torn by the British shells.
Evidently the same salvo had put the "Stoshfeld's" for'ard 9.4's out
of action, for they did not fire again. The German cruiser then
circled to starboard; slowly, for with the loss of her funnels her
speed had dropped to a bare seventeen knots. Yet by keeping her stern
on to her antagonist she was able to bring her as yet useless
after-guns to bear upon the "Heracles."
The latter, also subjected to loss of speed, made no attempt to
close. Porting helm, she was able to bring all her broadside guns as
well as the bow and stern turret-guns to bear upon the badly crippled
"Stoshfeld."
Suddenly shells began to fall with a high trajectory in front and
behind the British cruiser. She was, in naval parlance, "straddled"
by hostile projectiles fired at long range. The "Lemburg," steaming
to her consort's assistance--a deliberate act of self-sacrifice--had
commenced to fire salvoes at the "Heracles."
The "Castor" and the "Pollux" were still too far astern to take part
in the action. For five minutes the "Heracles" was subjected to
fierce fire from the two German cruisers. Shells ricochetted all
around her. Only the indifferent gunnery of the "Lemburg" saved her,
and since she was outranged by that vessel the British cruiser had
perforce to devote her attention to the "Stoshfeld" until the
undamaged cruisers could engage.
Quickly the "Castor" passed the "Heracles," steaming two miles to
windward, and presently her guns added to the din. Almost immediately
the galling fire of the "Lemburg" ceased to annoy the "Stoshfeld's"
antagonist, for the second German cruiser had now all her work cut
out to engage the other British cruisers.
Giving the "Stoshfeld" a couple of broadsides as she passed, the
"Pollux" followed in support of the "Castor," leaving the badly
mauled "Heracles" to continue her ocean duel with her seriously
damaged opponent.
Between the drifting clouds of vapour, for the cordite was far from
smokeless, Tressidar watched the effect of the "Heracles'"
projectiles upon the German cruisers, reporting to the conning-tower
the result of each direct hit.
Amidships the "Stoshfeld" was little better than a roaring volcano.
Her after-guns were still maintaining brisk fire and although she
flew no colours, she evidently had no intention of surrendering. In
fifteen minutes from the beginning of the action Tressidar was able
to report that the German cruiser was listing badly to port. Her
steering-gear, too, was much damaged, for she yawed considerably as
she vainly sought safety in flight.
Conversely, the "Heracles" was receiving less of a gruelling. The
German gunnery, at first most effective, had developed into erratic,
desultory firing. In her plight the hostile cruiser swung round and
made a determined attempt to ram, but the captain of the British
warship promptly countered by turning eight points to starboard and
increasing the distance between the two combatants.
"She's going!" almost shouted Tressidar into the telephone.
A bugle note rang out: the order to cease fire. Immediately the
British guns were silent, contemptuous of the erratic efforts of a
small quick-firer that alone was capable of hurling defiance from the
doomed ship.
From below hundreds of British seamen, clad only in trousers and
singlets, poured on deck to witness the end of their foe. Boxed in
behind armour, unable to see for themselves how events were shaping,
almost suffocated by the pungent fumes, they were now able to see the
result of their work.
There was no cheering. All signs of elation over the victory were
checked by the sight of the shell-torn cruiser about to make her last
plunge.
The "Heracles" made no attempt to close until it was evident that the
doomed ship was unable to deliver a last, desperate stroke in the
shape of a torpedo, then slowly the cruiser steamed towards her
opponent to rescue the survivors of her crew.
The British cruiser had only two boats capable of keeping afloat, and
these only by means of temporary expedient in the shape of copper
sheets and strips of painted canvas tacked over the jagged holes in
the planking. But Jack Tar was not to be baulked in his humane
efforts. Mess-tables and stools, empty petrol-cans, lifebuoys and
lifebelts were pressed into service and carried on deck ready to be
cast overboard to support the swimmers.
Suddenly two enormous waterspouts leapt high in the air, one on
either side and close to the British cruiser. An ear-splitting
detonation followed almost simultaneously, as the "Heracles,"
trembling violently under the shock, lurched heavily to port.
In the moment of victory she had been mined.