World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- Turkey -- Gallipoli Peninsula
Finally, one man is left on the green, slippery keel, and he, evidently
not being able to swim, calmly takes his jacket off, sits down, and,
if you please, takes off his boots, and walking slowly into the water,
plunges in, having the good fortune to grab a lifebuoy, and is hauled
to a tug.
The submarine has been spotted, and torpedo destroyers give chase,
circling round and round, but all signs of her have disappeared. The
destroyers, six in all, make bigger and bigger sweeps, when the sound
of firing is heard out at sea, and about four miles to the east of
Imbros I can see a big French battleship going hell for leather towards
the island. She is firing astern, and immediately all six destroyers
put out to sea as fast as they can steam; the French ship then fires
an extra big shell astern, which explodes with great violence in the
water; the destroyers coming up, she gives up firing and makes off to
safety. Later: No news as yet of the submarine, and we await with a
little anxiety further developments.
The survivors coming ashore were looked after by the Tommies, given
new clothes, breakfast, and rum, and seemed none the worse for their
adventure. One said, “This is the third —— time I have been sunk,
and I’m getting a bit fed-up.” One quickly becomes a philosopher and
fatalist on this Peninsula, and the fact that we are all a tonic to
each other keeps our spirits up.
I hear that most of the crew are saved, including the Admiral and
the Captain. About forty have lost their lives, and I feel sure
amongst this number are those unfortunate brave men who stood calmly
waiting for almost certain and immediate death, or the bare chance of
continuing to live longer, on that trap of a torpedo-net platform.
I stroll down on the beach and talk to Naval officers about the loss,
but they appear as optimistic as ever—tell me she was an old boat, of
not much value nowadays, built as long ago as 1894, and that when once
Achi Baba is taken the Fleet will get to work and make a dash up the
Straits.
The scene is just the same this beautiful evening, but instead of a
dignified, strong battleship in our midst, there remains her green
bows, like the head of an enormous whale, peeping out of the water.
_7 a.m._
Taube flies over, drops bomb; two men killed.
_May 28th._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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