more likely would the German submarine, lying lower down to the water, be deceived! As time went on and these much-feared ‘trap-ships’ were scrutinized more closely, several minor but fatal characteristics had to be remembered; for instance, the crew sometimes would be too smart or the signal-man was too good with his semaphore. But these and similar points were rectified as soon as they were realized. CHAPTER III Q-SHIP ENTERPRISE Within five weeks of her victorious fight _Baralong_ had done it again. After the war it was definitely announced in the public Press that U 27 had been sunk by H.M.S. _Wyandra_ on August 19. Under this name the ship’s crew were awarded the sum of £185 as prize bounty, and in the same court _Wyandra_, her commanding officer this time being Lieut.-Commander A. Wilmot-Smith, R.N., was awarded £170 prize bounty for sinking U 41 on September 24, 1915. It was an open secret that _Baralong_ and _Wyandra_ were one and the same ship, so we may as well get this matter quite clear. Already we have seen the manner in which this decoy sank U 27, and we shall now be able to note very similar tactics in almost the same locality attaining a like result under her new captain. [Illustration: FIG. 2.—DIAGRAM TO ILLUSTRATE APPROXIMATE MOVEMENTS OF ‘BARALONG’ WHEN SHE SANK U 41 ON SEPTEMBER 24, 1915. THE LETTERS INDICATE SIMULTANEOUS POSITIONS OF DECOY AND SUBMARINE.] U 41 had left Wilhelmshaven on September 12, this being her fourth trip. She was under the command of Lieut.-Commander Hansen, and on the 23rd had sunk three British steamers, each of about 4,000 tons, in a position roughly eighty miles south-east of the Fastnet. The first of these ships was the _Anglo-Columbian_, which was sunk at 9.45 a.m., followed by the _Chancellor_ at 3 p.m., and the _Hesione_ about four hours later. The news of the first sinking reached _Baralong_ (henceforth officially known as _Wyandra_) in Falmouth, so this decoy put to sea, and after rounding the Lizard steered a course that would, with luck, intercept the submarine if she were operating towards Ushant, as seemed probable. So the night passed. About 9 o’clock next morning the British S.S. _Urbino_ (6,651 tons), of the Wilson Line, was attacked by this U 41 in a position roughly sixty-seven miles S.W. by W. of the Bishop rock. At 9.45 a.m. up came the _Baralong_, and sighted the _Urbino_ about eight miles ahead, on fire, stopped, with a heavy list, and blowing off steam. It was a fine, clear morning; a steady course was maintained, and the Q-ship made ready for action. Already the _Urbino’s_ crew had been compelled to take to their boats, and the submarine, at a range of 200 yards, had put five shells into her. [Illustration: Q-SHIP “BARALONG” Showing gun on port side of the poop and disguised crew.] [Illustration: Q-SHIP “BARALONG” Showing disguised marines and method of concealing the gun. To face p. 28]