WAR ON FISHING CRAFT 



The Fermp herself was now put in extreme peril, 

 for when only four or five hundred yards separated 

 her from the submarine a torpedo was fired at the 

 trawler. Most fortunately it failed to strike. 



The submarine then turned and began to chase the 

 Fermo, which was now being kept at full speed. 

 That was the beginning of a struggle which lasted 

 four hours — a contest between a German murderer 

 and a North Sea skipper. By coolness, skill and 

 grim courage the skipper managed to elude his 

 cowardly pursuer, and after an exhausting chase 

 the submarine was lost to sight. That was at seven 

 o'clock in the evening — a peaceful Sabbath when the 

 church bells were ringing ashore — and finally the 

 Fermo reached Grismby safely. 



As to the identity of the submarines the skipper 

 said that there was no chance to see either letters or 

 numbers, as both vessels kept partly submerged 

 until the chase of the Fermo began, and none of the 

 crews came on deck. He emphasised the fact that 

 the I'anilla never had an opportunity to do any- 

 thing, and quite possibly her crew were not aware 

 of the presence of the first submarine. 



From the Fermo's deck the Vanilla's people 

 could be seen hauling their gear when the torpedo 

 struck her. In an instant she had vanished, leaving 

 only pieces of wreckage far and wide upon the 

 water. 



This case was one of deliberate murder, so mons- 

 trous in its conception, that even the German who 

 was responsible for its execution must have felt at 



79 



