CHAPTER XXIV
INTO ZEEBRUGGE
The appointed time the _Monitor_ arrived with other units of theAmerican submarine fleet at the designated point off the Englishcoast, to which point the undersea flotilla had been ordered bywireless. There, awaiting them, was the Admiral's flagship, and allaround her trim vessels flying the Stars and Stripes---"sentinelsof democracy."
In the fleet mobilized the _Monitor_ spoke several vessels that hadaccompanied the _Dewey_ across the Atlantic on her first voyage intothe war zone; there, also, were many other submarines built inAmerican shipyards and now in commission in the North Sea activities.It was a wonderful picture well calculated to stir the blood ofindomitable spirits like Jack Hammond and Ted Wainwright.
In response to a call from the flagship the _Monitor_ came alongsideand Lieutenant McClure with his executive officer and his aide wentaboard. From the Admiral himself they received warm commendation forthe heroic exploits of the converted U-boat, with special referenceto the individual deeds of Ensign Hammond and Ensign Wainwright.
"Permit me to present you two brave lads with these," said the AmericanAdmiral as he took from his aide two official envelopes and handedthem to Jack and Ted. Saluting, the two boys took the communicationsand stepped back beside their commander. The Admiral and LieutenantMcClure withdrew and went below, leaving Jack and Ted on the forwarddeck under the giant fifteen-inch guns of the battleship Pennsylvania,flagship of the American North Sea fleet.
The Brighton boys proceeded to open the official documents and foundcommissions signed by the Secretary of the Navy delegating to them therank of first lieutenant, U.S.N.
Needless to say both boys were quite elated over their rare goodfortune. It was, indeed, a moment for elation, considering theirshort term of service in the navy. Each had won his spurs in thegreat arena of service through devotion to duty and the flag and byexercising that rare courage and initiative that has characterizedthe fighting men of the U.S. Navy.
"I'm glad for the sake of dear old Brighton that we have made good,aren't you, chum?" asked Jack.
"You've said it, old boy!" answered Ted.
And then the lads for a moment digressed from the great war to talk ofdear old "room 63" back there on the third floor of the dormitoriesunder the campus oaks, with the lights of the town gleaming at nightfrom the windows. It was the first time they had approached anythinglike "homesickness" as each confessed he would like once more to strollup the campus and "see the boys."
Pretty soon Captain McClure emerged from amidships with the Admiral andafter a formal exchange of courtesies the officers of the _Monitor_went over the side of the Pennsylvania and back to the submarine.Captain McClure was engrossed in thought and as soon as he and hisstaff arrived on the _Monitor_ he beckoned them to follow him below.
"Very important news, boys," he began.
"The department has ordered a concerted attack on Zeebrugge. Theallied armies have been making a successful drive in Flanders designedat getting in behind the German U-boat bases. It seems to be theconsensus of opinion among the naval strategists of our own country,as well as in England and France, that the only way to stop theGerman submarine is to cut off the Germans at their naval bases.That is the aim of the land drive, and now it is the navy's turn."
He paused for a moment, and then continued:
"But now, to be more explicit. Here are the orders that I have justreceived from the Admiral, in conference with other American andEnglish naval commanders. A picked fleet from the allied navies hasbeen selected for the attack on Zeebrugge. Our American submarinesare to lead the way. We are expected to worm our way inside theenemy port and open the attack, Then the battleships will open fireon the coast fortifications.
"I'll give you a bit of information that you probably don't know. Inthe _Monitor_ when she was captured in the U-boat base belowBlankenberghe---thanks to Mr. Hammond's courage and initiative---wasfound a complete chart of the approach to Zeebrugge. Mines, nets,and other impediments all marked off."
"We think we have the key to the situation in that chart."
Captain McClure---who had attained that rank at the time Jack and Tedwere made lieutenants---further explained that he had been designatedin command of the ten American submarines that were to launch thespectacular attack. He said he would give his attention almost solelyto fleet maneuvers and leave the handling of the _Monitor_ to hislieutenants.
"We will do our best, sir," said Jack, as he squared his shoulders.
The attack was to be staged the following night. Now for the nexttwelve hours or so the crews of the selected warships were carefullyto prepare for the fray and to rest themselves.
The _Monitor_ was put in tiptop shape. Tenders came alongside andgave her stores of fuel and ammunition. The giant torpedo tubes wereloaded and the ship's full quota of reserve torpedoes taken aboard.The night and following day were given over to leisure hours. Jackand Ted wrote letters home and to school telling of their promotionsand some of their latest exploits.
At nine o'clock of the following evening the submarine fleet receivedthe word to be off.
The attack was planned to be started at one o'clock in the morningunder the cover of darkness. Keeping in close touch, the submarinesspread out over the sea like a huge fan. Behind them at a distance offive miles moved the supporting column of dreadnoughts, battle cruisers,destroyers, scouts and mine sweepers---units in the great fleet bentupon the task of smashing the German stronghold.
The _Monitor_ led off in the battle array. Copies of the chart ofZeebrugge, the original that had been found on the converted U-boatat the time of her capture, had been given to every submarine skipperin the fleet. Each had his orders for this all-important night.
"Here we go!" murmured McClure to his aides as he signaled his fleetof submarines forward into the fray.
Picking his way according to the German chart, he set a zigzag course.At length the officers of the _Monitor_ knew they were closing in,and so far successfully. The submarines were running submergedwith only the tips of their periscopes showing.
All at once there appeared in the sky directly ahead of the _Monitor_a line of red lights. A German birdman, circling above on patrol duty,had observed the wake of the periscopes and had touched off a nightflare.
Like a giant pyrotechnic display the red globules floated in the air.
No sooner had the light appeared than there came the boom of a big gunon shore and a huge shell screeched seaward over the _Monitor_.Instantly the coast defense guns of the Germans crashed into action.And now, from the rear of the _Monitor_ and her consorts, came theanswering crash of the great guns on the mighty ships of the Allies.
The furious battle was on!
German aviators, having sighted the American submarines, were bendingall their energies on wiping out the "invisible mosquitoes." Guidedonly by the telltale wake of the periscopes, they were dropping hugedepth bombs at random. One of them splashed into the sea directlyastern of the _Monitor_.
"We will have to act quickly now," urged McClure as he rang for fullspeed.
So far, so good; not a mine had been encountered. The _Monitor_ wasworming her way unmolested into the heart of the enemy stronghold!
Convinced now that he had passed the guardian line of nets and mines,McClure decided to dive and run for the inner recesses of the enemyharbor. Now down, out of sight, out of hearing of the big guns, the_Monitor_ relentlessly pursued her course, flouting the danger thatlurked on every hand.
At last came the moment when the commander of the submarine flotilladecided to climb to the surface and make an observation.
With every man standing to his post of duty and every nerve strainedfor the next move, the signal to pump out ballast was given and the_Monitor_ turned her diving rudders to ascend. Soon her periscopesthrust their eyes out of the depths.
"Look! there, off our port bow!" exclaimed Jack to his chief.
McClure saw it, too, at the same moment---a gia
nt German battlecruiser lying broadside to the harbor entrance and every gun belchingforth fire at the allied fleet outside!
Responding to the control of her commander, the _Monitor_ swung offsharply to port and drove straight for the cruiser.
McClure's right hand groped for the torpedo button as he sightedon the German battle cruiser. He released a torpedo!
Brighton Boys with the Submarine Fleet Page 24