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[Page 12]
On arriving back at Brindisi the following day as was the custom, on returning from patrol the C.O's of the various respective T.B.D's met to discuss the various incidents etc . Lieut. Comdr. Prudch Whipple Pridham-Whippell of the "Comet" in telling of his engine trouble mentioned that on his way back to the patrol ground after falling out of the line he was attacked by a submarine who just missed him. The captain of the French "Scimitaire" was then heard to observe, "mais ce n'etait pas une Boche sousmarin pour je crois c'etait moi"! He then went on to explain that, on his torpedo tubes there was an arrangement of red and green lights which when brought in contact by moving a lever on the bridge, was the signal for the man at the tube to fire the torpedo. The excessive vibration caused by the unusual speed the Scimitaire was making had resulted in these lights coming in contact when the brave lad at the tube promptly fired his mouldy and as luck would have it just at the moment when the "Comet" was passing on her way South after breaking down, but fortunately just missing her. Had it not been for the unfortunate disabling of the "Hornet's" and "Jackal's" wireless at the commencement of the action there is little doubt but what for our ships in Brindisi would have come out in time to cut off the retreat of the Austrians but as it was, they were just about twenty minutes too late. The "Hornet" had six killed and fifteen wounded. The "Jackal" had three killed and seven wounded. No other ship was touched. What damage was done to the Austrians can only be surmised.