Word: raider
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...year out of retirement in Switzerland, turned four of his eight 6-inchers loose, and tried to close, full speed. He repeatedly hit the German, who had to turn and use her port batteries when the starboard ones were evidently disabled. But the German kept on running, being a raider, not supposed to stand and fight. She had much more foot than the Carnarvon Castle's 17 knots and so, behind smoke screens, she escaped; but not before she showed signs of settling somewhat at the stern...
...convoy of 38 ships was strung out in line on a calm sea. The sun was just setting, gloriously. The raider appeared from the north. At about eight miles' distance (14,000 yd.) it started hurling 11-inch shells, the first of which fell just short of the 16,698-ton Rangitiki, largest member of the convoy and first to signal the alarm...
...sacrificial suicide. Captain Fegan and all his men-most of them boys just out of training school-well knew it. It was also Duty. The raider's heavy shells crashed around them and Captain Fegan bawled for more steam, to get his ship within 10,000 yards so that what guns he had might penetrate the enemy's armor...
...soon as the enemy raider had the range, she sent her metal over in salvos. One of the first carried away most of the Jervis Bay's main bridge and part of Captain Fegan's right arm. Bawling for more speed from his engines, more fire from his guns, he clambered to the after bridge. Another salvo wrecked the Jervis Bay's steering gear. She steamed straight ahead...
...raider hurled shrapnel for a while, to destroy as many survivors as possible, perhaps fearing a death-rattle torpedo attack and perhaps also to prevent being identified. Scarcely one man was not hit, but their heavy sea gear stopped most of the splinters. Darkness probably saved them. Presently the raider turned off, began vainly hunting other victims with angry starshells. The valiant Jervis Bay had held him up for better than an hour...