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[Page 57]
This next few months Nov. 1917 to March, 1918, became for the flotilla, a very strenuous period, and of no inconsiderable strain on its personnel, which was only lightened when in the spring of 1918, we were reinforced by the 5th (Imperial) flotilla and the work of the barrage commenced in earnest.
One of our first brushes with Fritz, after arriving on the barrage, had a humourous side, which, however might fairly have been tragic and the humour was not too evident to one party in the affair.
It was like this. The "Huon" and "Torrens" were on their regular beat when a submarine well on the surface was sighted about six miles away. Fire was opened immediately by all three ships, who at once gave chase at full speed. As usual Fritz as soon as our shells began to come unpleasantly near, dipped before we could get near enough to drop a depth charge with any chance of hurting him.
In accordance with our orders Brindisi was informed of the presence of an enemy submarine and the position in which it was last seen.
[Comment in margin]
Deleted by Censor at Navy Office - [the following paragraph].
N.B. To facilitate finding the positions of vessels, mines etc., referred to in signals, the chart of the area in which we patrolled was all marked off in squares of five miles. These squares were all numbered and as a reference to the number quoted was all that was necessary to locate the positions mentioned in a signal.
Very shortly after we were joined by three sea planes which searched the depths in the locality where Fritz was seen to submerge. The sea, which during the forenoon had been almost a flat calm, began to get up as the wind rose and by 3 p.m. a strong wind was blowing and the waves short, steep and curling over, their crested tops making it exceedingly difficult to detect a periscope. About 3.15 the "Huon" who was the centre ship and slightly in advance of the other two boats (we were in line abreast) hoisted the signal for "submarine in sight" and simultaneously opened fire, and went on to full speed.
On reaching the bridge when the alarm gongs sounded, I could see what appeared to be two submarines about 4 miles distant, both of them well on the surface and steaming across our bows.