July 27, 2025 • 27 mins
Delve deep into the clandestine world of submarine warfare during WWI with the Journal of Submarine Commander Von Forstner. As the commander of the German U-boat U-28, Forstner provides an unvarnished account of the gritty realities of life under the sea, including detailed descriptions of torpedo attacks on Allied ships. First published in 1916, this 1917 English translation aimed to support the Allied war effort by revealing the fearsome nature of their invisible enemy. Inspired by a visit to the captured WWII German U-505 submarine at Chicagos Museum of Science and Industry, this audio reading offers a visceral understanding of the claustrophobic conditions endured by the submarines crew, exemplified by the cramped sleeping quarters nestled alongside 15-foot-long torpedoes. This is a journey into the heart of the submarine warfare experience. (Introduction by Sue Anderson)
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Part three of the Journal of Submarine Commander von Forsner.
This is the LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
the public domain. For more information or volunteer, please visit
LibriVox dot org. Recording by Sue Anderson. The Journal of
Submarine Commander von Forstner by Georg Gunter Freer von Forsner,
(00:26):
translated by Anna Kraft's Coodmen, with commentary by John Hays
Hammond Junior. The Journal Part three in this manner, On
a fine March morning, we steered our course to the
English coast to take an active part in the commercial war. Gently,
the waves splashed around the prow and glided over the
(00:48):
lower deck. Our duty was to examine every merchantman we met,
with the object of destroying those of the enemy. The
essential thing was to ascertain the nationality of the ship
we stopped. On the following morning. We were given several
opportunities to fulfill our task. It is well known that
the English merchantmen were ordered by their government to fly
(01:12):
a neutral flag so as to avoid being captured by
our warships. We all remember how, on one of her
earlier trips through the war zone, the gigantic Lusitania received
a wireless message to conceal the Union jack and to
fly the stars and stripes of the United States, but destiny,
after all, overtook her. At a later date, all of
(01:35):
us U boat commanders were told not to trust the
nationality of any flag we saw, and to stop every
steamer on our path, and to examine her papers thoroughly.
Even these might be falsified, and we must therefore judge
for ourselves according to the appearance of the crew and
the way in which the ship was built, whether she
(01:57):
were in reality a neutral. Of course, many Neutrals had
to suffer from the deceptions practiced by the English. And
although their colors were painted on their sides and they
were lighted at night by electricity, yet this device could
also be copied. Therefore, we were obliged to detain and
examine all the ships we encountered, greatly to the inconvenience
(02:21):
of the innocent ones. I will describe the manner in
which a warship undertakes the search of a merchantman through
flag signals. The merchantman is bidden to stop immediately. If
he does not obey, the warship makes his orders more
imperative by firing blank shot as a warning. If then
(02:42):
the merchantman tries to escape, the warship is justified in
hitting the runaway. On the other hand, if the steamer
or sailboat obeys the summons, then the warship puts out
a boat with an armed prize crew and an officer
to look over the ship's papers. These consist of certificates
of nationality of the sailing port and port of destination,
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and they contain a bill of lading as to the
nature of the cargo, also the names of the crew,
and a passenger list if it is a passenger steamer.
If a neutral ship carries contraband of war, this is
either confiscated or destroyed, but if it exceeds half the
total cargo, then this ship is also condemned. It is
(03:30):
nearly impossible for a submarine to send a prize crew
on board a big ship. Therefore, neutral states have given
their captains the order to go in a ship's boat
and deliver their papers themselves on board the submarine. But
they often annoyed us by a long parley and delay,
and it was always with a feeling of disappointment that
(03:52):
we were obliged to leave inactive our cannons and torpedoes,
the crew sadly exclaiming, after all, they were only neutrals.
One sunny afternoon, we were in the act of examining
the papers of a Dutch steamer that we had stopped
in the neighborhood of the Mew's Lightship, when we perceived
on the horizon another steamer coming rapidly towards us, and
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we judged by its outline that it was of English construction.
The steamer we were examining proved to be unobjectionable in
every respect, and sailing only between neutral ports, so we
dismissed it, and just as it was departing, the English steamer,
evidently apprehending our presence, turned about in great haste in
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hope to escape from us, and steered with full steam
ahead towards the English shores to seek the protection of
the ships on the watch patrolling the English coast. The
English captain well knew what fate awaited him if he
fell into the hands of a wicked German u boat.
Mighty clouds of smoke rose from her funnels, giving evidence
(05:00):
of the active endeavors of the stokers in the boiler
room to bring the engines up to their highest speed,
and before we had time to give the signal to stop,
the steamer was in flight. Meanwhile, we had also put
on all steam in pursuit and drove our engines to
their utmost capacity. The English ship was going at a
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great pace, and we had many knots to cover before
we could catch up with her to impose our commands,
for she paid no heed to the international flag signal
we had hoisted, stop at once or we fire, and
she was striving her uttermost to reach a zone of safety.
Our prow plunged into the surging seas and showered boat
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and crew alike with silvery, sparkling foam. The engines were
being urged to their greatest power, and the whirr of
the propeller proved that below, at the motor valves, each
man was doing his very best. Anxiously we measured the
distance that still separated us from our prey. Was it
(06:06):
diminishing or would they get away from us before our
guns could take effect. Joyfully, we saw the interval lessening
between us, and before long our first warning shot across
her bow raised a high, threatening column of water, but
still the Englishmen hoped to escape from us, and the
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thick smoke belching from the funnels showed that the stokers
were shoveling more and more coal into the glowing furnace.
They well knew what risk they had to run, even
after two well aimed shots were discharged from the steel
mouths of our cannons right and left on either side
of the fugitive, which must have warned the captain that
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the next shot would undoubtedly strike the stern. He was
still resolved, neither to stop nor surrender. They now remained
for us, but to use our last means to enforce
our will. With a whistling sound, a shell flew from
the muzzle of our cannon, and a few seconds later
fell with a loud crash in a cloud of smoke
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on the rear deck of the steamer. This produced the
desired effect. Immediately the steamer stopped and informed us by
three quick blasts from the steam whistle the international signal
that the engines would be reversed, and the ship stopped.
The captain had given up his wild race. Huge white
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clouds from the uselessly accumulated steam rose from the funnels,
and to our signal, abandoned the ship at once. The
Englishman replied with a heavy heart by hoisting a white
and red striped pennon, the preconcerted international sign that our
order had been understood and was being obeyed. This small
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striped pennon has a deep significance. It means that a
captain accepts this most painful necessity, knowing that his dear
old boat will soon lie at the bottom of the sea.
Truly a difficult decision for the captain of a proud
ship to make. The crew were by this time reconciled
to their fate, and as we drew near to parley
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with the captain, the lifeboats were launched. The men tossed
in their belongings, and, jumping in, took their places at
the oars. It need hardly be said that we, on
the other hand, were pleased with our capture. I have
often shaken hands with the gunner who had fired the
last deadly shot, for we waste no emotion over our
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adversary's fate. With every enemy's ship sent to the bottom,
one hope of the hated foe is annihilated. We simply
pay off our account against their criminal wish to starve
all our people, our women, and our children, as they
are able to beat us in open fight with polished steel.
(09:04):
Ought we not therefore to rejoice in our justifiable satisfaction.
After the crew had left in two boats the blazing
hull of the Lowarden of Harwich, a well directed shot
was aimed at the water line. Mighty jets of water
poured into the rear storeroom, and the heavy listing of
the ship showed that her last hour had struck. We
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beckoned to the captain to row up beside us and
deliver his papers. He stepped silently on board, and we
exchanged salutes. As I saw that two boatloads of twenty
five men were lying off within hearing on either side
of us. I took this opportunity to admonish the captain
about his full hearty attempt to escape, and how he
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thereby had endangered the lives of his crew. The latter,
realizing the justice of my remarks, thanked us for having
saved them, respectfully lifting their caps. The captain awkwardly excused
himself by saying he had simply hoped to get away.
I then notified these people whom we had saved, that
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we would take them in tow to the mew's lightship.
At this the fine looking old captain realized to what
useless dangers he had exposed his men, and what cause
he had to be grateful to us. With tears in
his eyes, he seized my hand and murmured his thanks.
I willingly took his outstretched hand. At that instant, a
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Dutch pilot steamboat, which had been attracted to the spot
by the sound of firing, hove in sight, and I
committed the Englishmen to its care. We all desired, before
departing in opposite directions, to witness the final sinking of
the steamer, For apparently the English also wanted to see
the last of their fine ship, and we awaited the
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great moment in silence. We had not long to wait.
The stern of the ship sank deeper and deeper, whereas
the bow rose sharply in the air, till at last,
with a loud gurgle, the whole steamer was drawn down,
and the waters bubbled and roared over the sunken wreck.
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There was now one less fine ship of the English
merchant marine afloat on the ocean. We had all seen enough,
and each one went his way. Our course was pointed
westward towards new endeavors, while the Dutchmen steered for the
nearest port in order to land the shipwrecked crew. I
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think it was our English friends who waved a friendly
farewell from the deck of the pilot's steamboat in grateful
recognition for our having saved their lives, although they may
not actually have wished us our feeder saying. We read
in the Dutch papers a few days later an accurate
description of the sinking of the Liew war Jordan, and
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the English captain was fain to acknowledge how well we
had treated him. Every captain of an English steamer might
have been treated in like manner, had not the English
government wished it otherwise. Chapter six, The capture of two
prize steamers. The next day, an opportunity offered itself to us,
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which opened to submarines a new field of activity in
the commercial war. It was a gray, misty morning, The
sea was becalmed, and over the still waters a heavy
vapor hung low like a veil before the rising sun.
But little could be seen, and we had to keep
a sharper lookout than usual to avoid running unawares into
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a hostile ship and we also had to be ready
for a sudden submersion. We strained all the more and
attentive ear to every sound, for it is well known
that in a fog during a calm, we salers can
perceive the most distant noise that comes over the water.
In time of peace, fog horns and whistles give warning
(13:08):
of any approaching vessel, but in time of war, on
the contrary, no vessel wishes to betray its presence. It
is essential for us to have two men down below
at listening posts with their ears glued to the sides
of the boat, to catch the throbbing of a propeller,
or the rush of waves dashing against the prow of
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a ship, or any suspicious vibrations, for these noises are
easily discernible under sea water. Being an excellent sound conductor,
on this March morning, we were all keenly intent on
the approach of some ship. Many times already as we
stood on the bridge, we had been deceived by some
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unreal vision or some delusive sound. Our overstrained nerves transformed
our tu lifely fancy into seeming reality, and in a
thick fog objects are strangely magnified and distorted. A floating
board may assume the shape of a boat, or a
motor launch be taken for a steamer. I remember a
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little story about a man of war seeking to enter
a harbor in a heavy fog. Every one on board
was looking in vain for buie to indicate the channel,
when the captain himself called out, it is for me
then to point out the bui. There it is. But
as they drew near the buoy floating on the water,
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spread but a pair of wings and flew away in
the shape of a gull. And many a gull in
a fog may have deceived other experienced seamen. But to
return to our own adventures. On this misty morning, we
not only saw gulls rising from the sea and boards
floating on the water, but we also encountered English mu
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lines adrift, which had parted from their moorings, and to
these we thought it safer to give a wide berth.
At last, the fog lifted and we discovered in the
distance a few knots away a steamer. We immediately went
in pursuit. Rapidly. It steamed ahead, but we caught up
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with it and found it belonged to the Dutch Batavian line.
But as it was steering for the English coast towards
the mouth of the Thames, we took for granted it
carried a contraband cargo. We signaled for it to stop,
but the steamer refused to obey our command and increased
its speed. Having ascertained that we could easily overtake it,
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we spared our shot, which must be carefully preserved for
more useful purposes. After a chase, which lasted about three
quarters of an hour, only a thousand meters remained between us.
The Dutch captain wisely gave up a further attempt to
escape and awaited our orders. In compliance with my signal,
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he sent his first officer in a boat with the
ship's papers. While we lay alongside the steamer, gently rocking
to and fro. The crew and passengers flocked on deck
to gaze at us with wondering eyes, and we, in
return tried to discover to what nationality they belonged. On
reading the papers the officer handed me, I saw the
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steamer was the Batavian, the fourth destined for London, carrying
a cargo of provisions, which is contraband of war. I
had to make a rapid decision as to the fate
of the steamer, and I resolved to bring the Batavian
into one of the Belgian ports now in our possession.
No U boat had ever attempted such a feat before,
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but why not try? Of course, we had to cover
a long distance with the imminent threat of being overtaken
by English warships. But if we did succeed, it was
a very fine catch, and after all, nothing venture nothing
have Besides, the misty weather was in our favor, and
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it would only take a few hours to reach the
protection of our batteries on the Flemish coast. The Dutch
officer was notified that a prize crew would be at
once sent on board his steamer to conduct it to
the port of Zebruga. He opened wondering eyes, but made
no protest, for he was fully aware of our cannons
turned on his ship and of the loaded pistols of
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our crew. The crew and passengers on board the Dutchmen
were no less astounded when our prize command, consisting of
one officer and one sailor, climbed up on deck. I
could not well dispense myself with more men, and in
case my prize was released by the English. It would
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be better they had so few prisoners of ours to take.
The Dutch captain raised several objections at being led away
captive in this manner. Above all, he was afraid of
the German mines strewn before the entrance of Zebruga, But
my officer reassured him by telling him we should lead
the way and he would therefore run no risk. He
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finally had to resign himself to his fate. So we
proceeded towards the shores of Flanders, we in the proud
consciousness of a new achievement, and the Dutchmen lamenting over
the seizure of his valuable cargo. The passengers must have
wondered what was in store for them. Many of the
ladies were lightly clad, having been roused in fright from
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their morning slumbers, and their anxious eyes stared at us,
while we merrily looked back at them. Our officer on
board exchanged continual signals with us, and we were soon conscious,
with a feeling of envy as we gazed through our
field glasses, that he was getting on very friendly terms
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with the fair sex on board. Our prize. We had
feared at first that he might have some disagreeable experiences.
But his first message spelled, there are a great many
ladies on board, and the second we are having a
delicious breakfast, and the third the captain speaks excellent German.
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So after this we were quite reassured concerning him. An
hour may have elapsed when a cloud of smoke on
the eastern horizon announced the approach of another steamer, and
the idea that we might perhaps capture a second prize
ship was very alluring. The wisdom of abandoning for a
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while our first captive was considered somewhat doubtful. If we delayed,
it might escape after darkness set in. But when I
heard my officers exclaim what a fine steamer, I to
try for it. The Batavian was ordered to proceed slowly
on the same course and we would catch up with
it later. Then, turning my attention to Steamer number two,
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I made quickly in her direction to intercept her on
her way to England. After half an hour's pursuit, we
signaled for her to stop, and we discovered she was
also Dutch. The captain, seeing it was useless to try
and escape, put out a boat and came on board
with the ship's papers. He seemed thoroughly displeased at the meeting,
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and hoped, no doubt, by coming himself to get away
more easily. But of this expectation he was to be
sadly disabused. On discovering that he was also carrying contraband
of war cases of eggs for London, I ordered him
to follow us to zebruga one officer and a stoker,
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for I could not spare another sailor, accompanied him as
our prize command on board his ship, the Zanstrom, and
after a lapse of an hour and a half, followed
by number two, we caught up with number one. The
difficulty of my task can be easily imagined, for I
was obliged to make the two steamers follow each other
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at a given interval and at the same speed, like
a shepherd dog herding his flock. I had to cruise
around my two captives and force them to steer a
straight and even course. For one tried occasionally to outdistance
the other, probably with the desire to escape in the
foggy weather, which increased my fear of not reaching the
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Flemish coast before dark. But finally I got the steamers
into line, and where persuasion might have failed, the menace
of my cannons was doubtless my surest reason for success.
My second officer on the zanstrum signaled that everything was
going to his liking, and that they were just sitting
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down to a savory meal of dropped eggs. This was
reassuring news, and I could also feel tranquil on his behalf. Besides,
in a few hours we should be safely under cover
of our coast artillery. We notified the pilot depot by
wireless to send us a pilot for each ship, and
our messages having been acknowledged, we were certain of being
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warmly welcomed, and that every preparation would be made for
the reception of our two prizes. The closer we got
to the coast, the heavier the fog lay upon the water,
a not unusual experience at sea. We had to advance
with the greatest caution. Our u boat led the way
to confirm anew the assurance we had given our two
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steamers that they were in no danger of mines. We
had to measure the depth of water repeatedly with the lead,
and so doing we had to stop very often, otherwise
the lead, being dragged by the current, draws the line
to an inaccurate length. It is but too easy a
matter to run aground off the coast of Flanders, as
(23:08):
submerged sand banks are everywhere to be encountered, and this
would have been, in our present case, a most unfortunate occurrence.
This continual stopping rather disturbed the order of our march,
for steamers are more unwieldy and less accustomed to rapid
maneuvering than war vessels. Luckily all went well with us,
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for after a fine trip of several hours, we gladly
greeted our German guard ships lying off the port of Zebruga,
and the lighthouse on the Mole beckoned to us from
afar through the thin afternoon mist. We quickly surrendered our
two captives to the patrol of the port authorities, into
whose care and surveillance they were now entrusted. Our job
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for the day was over, and we could joyfully hurry
to our berth. Within the harbor. We passed along the
tremendous don quay of the artificial port of Zubruga. It
extends several kilometers and was built by Leopold the Second
with English money. It had cost many, many millions, and
was intended to serve quite another purpose than its present one.
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We could look with defiance at the mouth of our
German cannons that gaped over the highest edge of the
jetty towards the sea, as if awaiting the foe further
up on the mole. Instead of English troops that the
King would so gladly have sent over in transports to
march through neutral Belgium and pay us an uninvited visit,
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stood side by side our own brave fellows of the
army and of the navy. Men from every branch of
the service, in their different uniforms, were visible as they
crowded on the pier to witness our arrival with our
two prize boats. For the news of this unusual capture
had already spread far and wide, and they all wanted
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to satisfy their curiosity. Their enthusiasm would have been even
greater had they guessed that concealed within the hull of
our two vessels an easter feast of undreamed of dainties
lay in store for them. But even without this incentive,
a tremendous cheer from a thousand throats hailed our appearance
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as we rounded the mole, and our thirty voices returned
as hardy, if not as loud, a three times repeated
cheer for the garrison of Zebruga. Our toe lines were
caught by the eager hands of the sailors, and in
a jiffy we were lying securely alongside the quay, safe
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in port to rest in peace. A day or two,
after a many days cruise, enlivened by such exciting events,
our friends of the navy, whom we had not seen
since the beginning of the war, came to visit us.
At once. Much gay news was exchanged and also sad
regrets expressed at the loss of dear fallen comrades. Shortly afterwards,
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one of the Dutch captains, escorted by two guards, asked
me to grant him an interview, and I was glad
to make his personal acquaintance. We discussed over a little
glass of port wine, which we were both surely entitled
to the incidents of the day, and he gave vent
to his affliction at being thus seized by ejaculating a
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great steamer like mine, to be captured by a little
beast like yours. I could sympathize with his feelings, for
he had sustained a severe pecuniary loss, and he well
knew what would become of his ship and cargo according
to prize law. But I suspected he found some consolation
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in having a companion in misfortune, for the other Dutch
captain had to submit to the same conditions. We shook
hands and parted excellent friends, knowing that each one of
us had only accomplished his duty. End of Part three
Part three of the Journal of Submarine Commander von Forsner.
This is the LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
the public domain. For more information or volunteer, please visit
LibriVox dot org. Recording by Sue Anderson. The Journal of
Submarine Commander von Forstner by Georg Gunter Freer von Forsner,
(00:26):
translated by Anna Kraft's Coodmen, with commentary by John Hays
Hammond Junior. The Journal Part three in this manner, On
a fine March morning, we steered our course to the
English coast to take an active part in the commercial war. Gently,
the waves splashed around the prow and glided over the
(00:48):
lower deck. Our duty was to examine every merchantman we met,
with the object of destroying those of the enemy. The
essential thing was to ascertain the nationality of the ship
we stopped. On the following morning. We were given several
opportunities to fulfill our task. It is well known that
the English merchantmen were ordered by their government to fly
(01:12):
a neutral flag so as to avoid being captured by
our warships. We all remember how, on one of her
earlier trips through the war zone, the gigantic Lusitania received
a wireless message to conceal the Union jack and to
fly the stars and stripes of the United States, but destiny,
after all, overtook her. At a later date, all of
(01:35):
us U boat commanders were told not to trust the
nationality of any flag we saw, and to stop every
steamer on our path, and to examine her papers thoroughly.
Even these might be falsified, and we must therefore judge
for ourselves according to the appearance of the crew and
the way in which the ship was built, whether she
(01:57):
were in reality a neutral. Of course, many Neutrals had
to suffer from the deceptions practiced by the English. And
although their colors were painted on their sides and they
were lighted at night by electricity, yet this device could
also be copied. Therefore, we were obliged to detain and
examine all the ships we encountered, greatly to the inconvenience
(02:21):
of the innocent ones. I will describe the manner in
which a warship undertakes the search of a merchantman through
flag signals. The merchantman is bidden to stop immediately. If
he does not obey, the warship makes his orders more
imperative by firing blank shot as a warning. If then
(02:42):
the merchantman tries to escape, the warship is justified in
hitting the runaway. On the other hand, if the steamer
or sailboat obeys the summons, then the warship puts out
a boat with an armed prize crew and an officer
to look over the ship's papers. These consist of certificates
of nationality of the sailing port and port of destination,
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and they contain a bill of lading as to the
nature of the cargo, also the names of the crew,
and a passenger list if it is a passenger steamer.
If a neutral ship carries contraband of war, this is
either confiscated or destroyed, but if it exceeds half the
total cargo, then this ship is also condemned. It is
(03:30):
nearly impossible for a submarine to send a prize crew
on board a big ship. Therefore, neutral states have given
their captains the order to go in a ship's boat
and deliver their papers themselves on board the submarine. But
they often annoyed us by a long parley and delay,
and it was always with a feeling of disappointment that
(03:52):
we were obliged to leave inactive our cannons and torpedoes,
the crew sadly exclaiming, after all, they were only neutrals.
One sunny afternoon, we were in the act of examining
the papers of a Dutch steamer that we had stopped
in the neighborhood of the Mew's Lightship, when we perceived
on the horizon another steamer coming rapidly towards us, and
(04:16):
we judged by its outline that it was of English construction.
The steamer we were examining proved to be unobjectionable in
every respect, and sailing only between neutral ports, so we
dismissed it, and just as it was departing, the English steamer,
evidently apprehending our presence, turned about in great haste in
(04:38):
hope to escape from us, and steered with full steam
ahead towards the English shores to seek the protection of
the ships on the watch patrolling the English coast. The
English captain well knew what fate awaited him if he
fell into the hands of a wicked German u boat.
Mighty clouds of smoke rose from her funnels, giving evidence
(05:00):
of the active endeavors of the stokers in the boiler
room to bring the engines up to their highest speed,
and before we had time to give the signal to stop,
the steamer was in flight. Meanwhile, we had also put
on all steam in pursuit and drove our engines to
their utmost capacity. The English ship was going at a
(05:23):
great pace, and we had many knots to cover before
we could catch up with her to impose our commands,
for she paid no heed to the international flag signal
we had hoisted, stop at once or we fire, and
she was striving her uttermost to reach a zone of safety.
Our prow plunged into the surging seas and showered boat
(05:46):
and crew alike with silvery, sparkling foam. The engines were
being urged to their greatest power, and the whirr of
the propeller proved that below, at the motor valves, each
man was doing his very best. Anxiously we measured the
distance that still separated us from our prey. Was it
(06:06):
diminishing or would they get away from us before our
guns could take effect. Joyfully, we saw the interval lessening
between us, and before long our first warning shot across
her bow raised a high, threatening column of water, but
still the Englishmen hoped to escape from us, and the
(06:27):
thick smoke belching from the funnels showed that the stokers
were shoveling more and more coal into the glowing furnace.
They well knew what risk they had to run, even
after two well aimed shots were discharged from the steel
mouths of our cannons right and left on either side
of the fugitive, which must have warned the captain that
(06:51):
the next shot would undoubtedly strike the stern. He was
still resolved, neither to stop nor surrender. They now remained
for us, but to use our last means to enforce
our will. With a whistling sound, a shell flew from
the muzzle of our cannon, and a few seconds later
fell with a loud crash in a cloud of smoke
(07:13):
on the rear deck of the steamer. This produced the
desired effect. Immediately the steamer stopped and informed us by
three quick blasts from the steam whistle the international signal
that the engines would be reversed, and the ship stopped.
The captain had given up his wild race. Huge white
(07:35):
clouds from the uselessly accumulated steam rose from the funnels,
and to our signal, abandoned the ship at once. The
Englishman replied with a heavy heart by hoisting a white
and red striped pennon, the preconcerted international sign that our
order had been understood and was being obeyed. This small
(07:58):
striped pennon has a deep significance. It means that a
captain accepts this most painful necessity, knowing that his dear
old boat will soon lie at the bottom of the sea.
Truly a difficult decision for the captain of a proud
ship to make. The crew were by this time reconciled
to their fate, and as we drew near to parley
(08:20):
with the captain, the lifeboats were launched. The men tossed
in their belongings, and, jumping in, took their places at
the oars. It need hardly be said that we, on
the other hand, were pleased with our capture. I have
often shaken hands with the gunner who had fired the
last deadly shot, for we waste no emotion over our
(08:42):
adversary's fate. With every enemy's ship sent to the bottom,
one hope of the hated foe is annihilated. We simply
pay off our account against their criminal wish to starve
all our people, our women, and our children, as they
are able to beat us in open fight with polished steel.
(09:04):
Ought we not therefore to rejoice in our justifiable satisfaction.
After the crew had left in two boats the blazing
hull of the Lowarden of Harwich, a well directed shot
was aimed at the water line. Mighty jets of water
poured into the rear storeroom, and the heavy listing of
the ship showed that her last hour had struck. We
(09:27):
beckoned to the captain to row up beside us and
deliver his papers. He stepped silently on board, and we
exchanged salutes. As I saw that two boatloads of twenty
five men were lying off within hearing on either side
of us. I took this opportunity to admonish the captain
about his full hearty attempt to escape, and how he
(09:51):
thereby had endangered the lives of his crew. The latter,
realizing the justice of my remarks, thanked us for having
saved them, respectfully lifting their caps. The captain awkwardly excused
himself by saying he had simply hoped to get away.
I then notified these people whom we had saved, that
(10:12):
we would take them in tow to the mew's lightship.
At this the fine looking old captain realized to what
useless dangers he had exposed his men, and what cause
he had to be grateful to us. With tears in
his eyes, he seized my hand and murmured his thanks.
I willingly took his outstretched hand. At that instant, a
(10:35):
Dutch pilot steamboat, which had been attracted to the spot
by the sound of firing, hove in sight, and I
committed the Englishmen to its care. We all desired, before
departing in opposite directions, to witness the final sinking of
the steamer, For apparently the English also wanted to see
the last of their fine ship, and we awaited the
(10:58):
great moment in silence. We had not long to wait.
The stern of the ship sank deeper and deeper, whereas
the bow rose sharply in the air, till at last,
with a loud gurgle, the whole steamer was drawn down,
and the waters bubbled and roared over the sunken wreck.
(11:18):
There was now one less fine ship of the English
merchant marine afloat on the ocean. We had all seen enough,
and each one went his way. Our course was pointed
westward towards new endeavors, while the Dutchmen steered for the
nearest port in order to land the shipwrecked crew. I
(11:38):
think it was our English friends who waved a friendly
farewell from the deck of the pilot's steamboat in grateful
recognition for our having saved their lives, although they may
not actually have wished us our feeder saying. We read
in the Dutch papers a few days later an accurate
description of the sinking of the Liew war Jordan, and
(12:01):
the English captain was fain to acknowledge how well we
had treated him. Every captain of an English steamer might
have been treated in like manner, had not the English
government wished it otherwise. Chapter six, The capture of two
prize steamers. The next day, an opportunity offered itself to us,
(12:24):
which opened to submarines a new field of activity in
the commercial war. It was a gray, misty morning, The
sea was becalmed, and over the still waters a heavy
vapor hung low like a veil before the rising sun.
But little could be seen, and we had to keep
a sharper lookout than usual to avoid running unawares into
(12:45):
a hostile ship and we also had to be ready
for a sudden submersion. We strained all the more and
attentive ear to every sound, for it is well known
that in a fog during a calm, we salers can
perceive the most distant noise that comes over the water.
In time of peace, fog horns and whistles give warning
(13:08):
of any approaching vessel, but in time of war, on
the contrary, no vessel wishes to betray its presence. It
is essential for us to have two men down below
at listening posts with their ears glued to the sides
of the boat, to catch the throbbing of a propeller,
or the rush of waves dashing against the prow of
(13:31):
a ship, or any suspicious vibrations, for these noises are
easily discernible under sea water. Being an excellent sound conductor,
on this March morning, we were all keenly intent on
the approach of some ship. Many times already as we
stood on the bridge, we had been deceived by some
(13:53):
unreal vision or some delusive sound. Our overstrained nerves transformed
our tu lifely fancy into seeming reality, and in a
thick fog objects are strangely magnified and distorted. A floating
board may assume the shape of a boat, or a
motor launch be taken for a steamer. I remember a
(14:16):
little story about a man of war seeking to enter
a harbor in a heavy fog. Every one on board
was looking in vain for buie to indicate the channel,
when the captain himself called out, it is for me
then to point out the bui. There it is. But
as they drew near the buoy floating on the water,
(14:37):
spread but a pair of wings and flew away in
the shape of a gull. And many a gull in
a fog may have deceived other experienced seamen. But to
return to our own adventures. On this misty morning, we
not only saw gulls rising from the sea and boards
floating on the water, but we also encountered English mu
(15:00):
lines adrift, which had parted from their moorings, and to
these we thought it safer to give a wide berth.
At last, the fog lifted and we discovered in the
distance a few knots away a steamer. We immediately went
in pursuit. Rapidly. It steamed ahead, but we caught up
(15:20):
with it and found it belonged to the Dutch Batavian line.
But as it was steering for the English coast towards
the mouth of the Thames, we took for granted it
carried a contraband cargo. We signaled for it to stop,
but the steamer refused to obey our command and increased
its speed. Having ascertained that we could easily overtake it,
(15:43):
we spared our shot, which must be carefully preserved for
more useful purposes. After a chase, which lasted about three
quarters of an hour, only a thousand meters remained between us.
The Dutch captain wisely gave up a further attempt to
escape and awaited our orders. In compliance with my signal,
(16:04):
he sent his first officer in a boat with the
ship's papers. While we lay alongside the steamer, gently rocking
to and fro. The crew and passengers flocked on deck
to gaze at us with wondering eyes, and we, in
return tried to discover to what nationality they belonged. On
reading the papers the officer handed me, I saw the
(16:28):
steamer was the Batavian, the fourth destined for London, carrying
a cargo of provisions, which is contraband of war. I
had to make a rapid decision as to the fate
of the steamer, and I resolved to bring the Batavian
into one of the Belgian ports now in our possession.
No U boat had ever attempted such a feat before,
(16:51):
but why not try? Of course, we had to cover
a long distance with the imminent threat of being overtaken
by English warships. But if we did succeed, it was
a very fine catch, and after all, nothing venture nothing
have Besides, the misty weather was in our favor, and
(17:12):
it would only take a few hours to reach the
protection of our batteries on the Flemish coast. The Dutch
officer was notified that a prize crew would be at
once sent on board his steamer to conduct it to
the port of Zebruga. He opened wondering eyes, but made
no protest, for he was fully aware of our cannons
turned on his ship and of the loaded pistols of
(17:35):
our crew. The crew and passengers on board the Dutchmen
were no less astounded when our prize command, consisting of
one officer and one sailor, climbed up on deck. I
could not well dispense myself with more men, and in
case my prize was released by the English. It would
(17:56):
be better they had so few prisoners of ours to take.
The Dutch captain raised several objections at being led away
captive in this manner. Above all, he was afraid of
the German mines strewn before the entrance of Zebruga, But
my officer reassured him by telling him we should lead
the way and he would therefore run no risk. He
(18:19):
finally had to resign himself to his fate. So we
proceeded towards the shores of Flanders, we in the proud
consciousness of a new achievement, and the Dutchmen lamenting over
the seizure of his valuable cargo. The passengers must have
wondered what was in store for them. Many of the
ladies were lightly clad, having been roused in fright from
(18:42):
their morning slumbers, and their anxious eyes stared at us,
while we merrily looked back at them. Our officer on
board exchanged continual signals with us, and we were soon conscious,
with a feeling of envy as we gazed through our
field glasses, that he was getting on very friendly terms
(19:04):
with the fair sex on board. Our prize. We had
feared at first that he might have some disagreeable experiences.
But his first message spelled, there are a great many
ladies on board, and the second we are having a
delicious breakfast, and the third the captain speaks excellent German.
(19:25):
So after this we were quite reassured concerning him. An
hour may have elapsed when a cloud of smoke on
the eastern horizon announced the approach of another steamer, and
the idea that we might perhaps capture a second prize
ship was very alluring. The wisdom of abandoning for a
(19:47):
while our first captive was considered somewhat doubtful. If we delayed,
it might escape after darkness set in. But when I
heard my officers exclaim what a fine steamer, I to
try for it. The Batavian was ordered to proceed slowly
on the same course and we would catch up with
it later. Then, turning my attention to Steamer number two,
(20:11):
I made quickly in her direction to intercept her on
her way to England. After half an hour's pursuit, we
signaled for her to stop, and we discovered she was
also Dutch. The captain, seeing it was useless to try
and escape, put out a boat and came on board
with the ship's papers. He seemed thoroughly displeased at the meeting,
(20:34):
and hoped, no doubt, by coming himself to get away
more easily. But of this expectation he was to be
sadly disabused. On discovering that he was also carrying contraband
of war cases of eggs for London, I ordered him
to follow us to zebruga one officer and a stoker,
(20:55):
for I could not spare another sailor, accompanied him as
our prize command on board his ship, the Zanstrom, and
after a lapse of an hour and a half, followed
by number two, we caught up with number one. The
difficulty of my task can be easily imagined, for I
was obliged to make the two steamers follow each other
(21:17):
at a given interval and at the same speed, like
a shepherd dog herding his flock. I had to cruise
around my two captives and force them to steer a
straight and even course. For one tried occasionally to outdistance
the other, probably with the desire to escape in the
foggy weather, which increased my fear of not reaching the
(21:39):
Flemish coast before dark. But finally I got the steamers
into line, and where persuasion might have failed, the menace
of my cannons was doubtless my surest reason for success.
My second officer on the zanstrum signaled that everything was
going to his liking, and that they were just sitting
(22:01):
down to a savory meal of dropped eggs. This was
reassuring news, and I could also feel tranquil on his behalf. Besides,
in a few hours we should be safely under cover
of our coast artillery. We notified the pilot depot by
wireless to send us a pilot for each ship, and
our messages having been acknowledged, we were certain of being
(22:24):
warmly welcomed, and that every preparation would be made for
the reception of our two prizes. The closer we got
to the coast, the heavier the fog lay upon the water,
a not unusual experience at sea. We had to advance
with the greatest caution. Our u boat led the way
to confirm anew the assurance we had given our two
(22:45):
steamers that they were in no danger of mines. We
had to measure the depth of water repeatedly with the lead,
and so doing we had to stop very often, otherwise
the lead, being dragged by the current, draws the line
to an inaccurate length. It is but too easy a
matter to run aground off the coast of Flanders, as
(23:08):
submerged sand banks are everywhere to be encountered, and this
would have been, in our present case, a most unfortunate occurrence.
This continual stopping rather disturbed the order of our march,
for steamers are more unwieldy and less accustomed to rapid
maneuvering than war vessels. Luckily all went well with us,
(23:30):
for after a fine trip of several hours, we gladly
greeted our German guard ships lying off the port of Zebruga,
and the lighthouse on the Mole beckoned to us from
afar through the thin afternoon mist. We quickly surrendered our
two captives to the patrol of the port authorities, into
whose care and surveillance they were now entrusted. Our job
(23:53):
for the day was over, and we could joyfully hurry
to our berth. Within the harbor. We passed along the
tremendous don quay of the artificial port of Zubruga. It
extends several kilometers and was built by Leopold the Second
with English money. It had cost many, many millions, and
was intended to serve quite another purpose than its present one.
(24:16):
We could look with defiance at the mouth of our
German cannons that gaped over the highest edge of the
jetty towards the sea, as if awaiting the foe further
up on the mole. Instead of English troops that the
King would so gladly have sent over in transports to
march through neutral Belgium and pay us an uninvited visit,
(24:38):
stood side by side our own brave fellows of the
army and of the navy. Men from every branch of
the service, in their different uniforms, were visible as they
crowded on the pier to witness our arrival with our
two prize boats. For the news of this unusual capture
had already spread far and wide, and they all wanted
(25:00):
to satisfy their curiosity. Their enthusiasm would have been even
greater had they guessed that concealed within the hull of
our two vessels an easter feast of undreamed of dainties
lay in store for them. But even without this incentive,
a tremendous cheer from a thousand throats hailed our appearance
(25:22):
as we rounded the mole, and our thirty voices returned
as hardy, if not as loud, a three times repeated
cheer for the garrison of Zebruga. Our toe lines were
caught by the eager hands of the sailors, and in
a jiffy we were lying securely alongside the quay, safe
(25:42):
in port to rest in peace. A day or two,
after a many days cruise, enlivened by such exciting events,
our friends of the navy, whom we had not seen
since the beginning of the war, came to visit us.
At once. Much gay news was exchanged and also sad
regrets expressed at the loss of dear fallen comrades. Shortly afterwards,
(26:07):
one of the Dutch captains, escorted by two guards, asked
me to grant him an interview, and I was glad
to make his personal acquaintance. We discussed over a little
glass of port wine, which we were both surely entitled
to the incidents of the day, and he gave vent
to his affliction at being thus seized by ejaculating a
(26:30):
great steamer like mine, to be captured by a little
beast like yours. I could sympathize with his feelings, for
he had sustained a severe pecuniary loss, and he well
knew what would become of his ship and cargo according
to prize law. But I suspected he found some consolation
(26:52):
in having a companion in misfortune, for the other Dutch
captain had to submit to the same conditions. We shook
hands and parted excellent friends, knowing that each one of
us had only accomplished his duty. End of Part three
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