"I gave the order to slip, but the slipping gear jammed in 'C 24.' I then told _Taranaki_ to slip her end, which she did. I went ahead, helm hard a-starboard, to attack submarine astern. The boat immediately sank to 38 feet with 5° inclination, bow down. The trim then took some time to adjust, as I had at that time 100 fathoms of 3-1/2-inch wire hawser, 100 fathom 8-inch coir hawser, and 100 fathom telephone cable hanging from the bows. Eventually sighted enemy's conning-tower 1000 yards off. Closed to 500 yards, manoeuvred for beam shot, and fired 9.55 A.M. Torpedo hit enemy amidships. I then came to the surface and picked up 'U 40's' Captain. My propeller then refused to move, and it was found that there were 20 turns of telephone cable round the shaft...." Lieut.-Commander Edwards (in trawler _Taranaki_) was, of course, ignorant of the fact that "C 24" was somewhat hampered by these cables hanging at the bow:-- "... 9.30 A.M., June 23rd: Enemy submarine rose and fired a shot across my bows from 2000 yards range--shell burst 20 yards ahead--informed 'C 24' by telephone. 9.45: Slipped _Taranaki's_ end of tow, as 'C 24's' slip had jammed. Got boat out to simulate abandoning ship and panic. Saw 'C 24's' periscope pass, attacking. 9.55: Observed torpedo run and explode under conning-tower of enemy. An officer and a petty officer the only survivors...." Lieut.-Commander Dobson, in command of "C 27," has an abrupt and almost _blasé_ report to make of his sinking of "U 23":-- "7.55 A.M., July 20th: Lieut. Cantlie in trawler _Princess Louise_ telephoned to me that a hostile submarine was in sight 2000 yards on the port bow--telling me not to slip for a little while. Telephone then broke down [_It would--of course_]. "At 8 A.M. I heard the sound of shots falling on the water and decided to slip, which I did. Turned to starboard to get clear of trawler and came to 18 feet for a look. Closed enemy to 500 yards, and fired port tube at 8.12. As I fired I observed enemy start her engines, and torpedo missed astern. I shifted my deflection and fired the starboard tube. Torpedo hit the submarine just abaft the conning-tower. I blew main ballast tanks and picked up seven survivors (Captain, two officers, and four men). The weather being too bad to get in tow again, I returned to harbour." Lieutenant Cantlie, in the trawler, reports:--