5 - The Journal, Part 3. The Journal of Submarine Commander Von Forstner, by George-Gunther Freiherr von Forstner.
The Journal of Submarine Commander Von Forstner is a graphic account of WWI submarine warfare. Forstner was the commander of German U-boat U-28. His journal, first published 1916, gives a gritty picture of daily life inside a submarine and details several torpedo attacks on Allied shipping. The 1917 translation of Forstner’s journal into English was unquestionably intended to bolster the Allied war effort. In the foreword, the translator states: “Nothing at the present day has aroused such fear as this invisible enemy, nor has anything outraged the civilized world like the tragedies caused by the German submarines.”
The Journal of Submarine Commander Von Forstner is a graphic account of WWI submarine warfare. Forstner was the commander of German U-boat U-28. His journal, first published 1916, gives a gritty picture of daily life inside a submarine and details several torpedo attacks on Allied shipping. The 1917 translation of Forstner’s journal into English was unquestionably intended to bolster the Allied war effort. In the foreword, the translator states: “Nothing at the present day has aroused such fear as this invisible enemy, nor has anything outraged the civilized world like the tragedies caused by the German submarines.”
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Part three of the Journal of Submarine Commander von Forstner.
This is the LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
the public domain. For more information or a volunteer, please
visit LibriVox dot org. Recording by Sue Anderson. The Journal
of Submarine Commander von Forstner by Georg Gunter Freiher 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
(01:11):
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,
(03:06):
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
(06:50):
the next shot would undoubtedly strike the stern. He was
still resolved, neither to stop nor surrender. Nothing 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
(07:13):
smoke 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 life boats 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
(08:42):
our 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 an able to beat us in open fight with
polished steel. Ought we not therefore to rejoice in our
(09:06):
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.
(09:27):
We 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
(09:50):
he 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 depth 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 loew 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 saylers 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 two line 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 a buoie 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 mud adrift,
(15:01):
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 with it and
(15:21):
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, we spared
(15:44):
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, he sent his
(16:05):
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
(16:25):
the officer handed me, I saw the 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
(16:48):
ever attempted such a feat before, 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
(17:10):
weather was in our favor and 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
(17:30):
was fully aware of our cannons turned on his ship
and of the loaded pistols of 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
(17:54):
by the English, it would 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
(18:16):
would therefore run no risk. He 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.
(18:37):
Many of the ladies were lightly clad, having been roused
in fright from 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
(18:59):
we gazed through our field glasses, that he was getting
on very friendly terms 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
(19:22):
captain speaks excellent German. 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
(19:45):
of abandoning for a 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
(20:05):
we would catch up with it later. Then, turning my
attention to Steamer number two, 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
(20:28):
boat and came on board with the ship's papers. He
seemed thoroughly displeased at the meeting 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
(20:49):
eggs for London, I ordered him to follow us to
zebruga one officer and a stoker, 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
(21:12):
can be easily imagined, for I was obliged to make
the two steamers follow each other 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
(21:34):
the desire to escape in the foggy weather, which increased
my fear of not reaching the 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 by surest reason for success. My second officer on
(21:55):
the zanstrum signaled that everything was going to his liking,
and that they were just sitting 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
(22:17):
send us a pilot for each ship, and our messages
having been acknowledged, we were certain of being 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
(22:40):
greatest caution. Our u boat led the way to confirm
anew the assurance we had given our two 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 laws the line to
(23:01):
an inaccurate length. It is but too easy a matter
to run aground off the coast of Flanders, as 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,
(23:22):
for steamers are more unwieldy and less accustomed to rapid
maneuvering than war vessels. Luckily all went well with us,
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
(23:45):
two captives to the patrol of the port authorities, into
whose care and surveillance they were now entrusted. Our job
for the day was over, and we could joyfully hurry
to our berth. Within the harbor, we passed along the
tremendous quay of the artificial port of Zabruga. It extended
several kilometers and was built by Leopold the second with
(24:07):
English money. It had cost many, many millions, and was
intended to serve quite another purpose than its present one.
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
(24:27):
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,
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
(24:49):
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 the they all
wanted 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
(25:12):
dainties lay in store for them. But even without this incentive,
a tremendous cheer from a thousand throats hailed our appearance
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 Zabruga. Our toe lines were
(25:34):
caught by the eager hands of the sailors, and in
a jiffy we were lying securely alongside the quay, safe
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.
(25:56):
At once. Much gay news was exchanged and also sad
regrets expressed at the loss of dear fallen comrades. Shortly afterwards,
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
(26:19):
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
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
(26:44):
knew what would become of his ship and cargo according
to prize law. But I suspected he found some consolation
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
(27:04):
us had only accomplished his duty. End of Part three
Part three of the Journal of Submarine Commander von Forstner.
This is the LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
the public domain. For more information or a volunteer, please
visit LibriVox dot org. Recording by Sue Anderson. The Journal
of Submarine Commander von Forstner by Georg Gunter Freiher 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
(01:11):
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,
(03:06):
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
(06:50):
the next shot would undoubtedly strike the stern. He was
still resolved, neither to stop nor surrender. Nothing 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
(07:13):
smoke 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 life boats 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
(08:42):
our 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 an able to beat us in open fight with
polished steel. Ought we not therefore to rejoice in our
(09:06):
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.
(09:27):
We 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
(09:50):
he 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 depth 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 loew 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 saylers 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 two line 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 a buoie 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 mud adrift,
(15:01):
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 with it and
(15:21):
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, we spared
(15:44):
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, he sent his
(16:05):
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
(16:25):
the officer handed me, I saw the 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
(16:48):
ever attempted such a feat before, 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
(17:10):
weather was in our favor and 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
(17:30):
was fully aware of our cannons turned on his ship
and of the loaded pistols of 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
(17:54):
by the English, it would 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
(18:16):
would therefore run no risk. He 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.
(18:37):
Many of the ladies were lightly clad, having been roused
in fright from 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
(18:59):
we gazed through our field glasses, that he was getting
on very friendly terms 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
(19:22):
captain speaks excellent German. 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
(19:45):
of abandoning for a 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
(20:05):
we would catch up with it later. Then, turning my
attention to Steamer number two, 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
(20:28):
boat and came on board with the ship's papers. He
seemed thoroughly displeased at the meeting 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
(20:49):
eggs for London, I ordered him to follow us to
zebruga one officer and a stoker, 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
(21:12):
can be easily imagined, for I was obliged to make
the two steamers follow each other 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
(21:34):
the desire to escape in the foggy weather, which increased
my fear of not reaching the 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 by surest reason for success. My second officer on
(21:55):
the zanstrum signaled that everything was going to his liking,
and that they were just sitting 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
(22:17):
send us a pilot for each ship, and our messages
having been acknowledged, we were certain of being 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
(22:40):
greatest caution. Our u boat led the way to confirm
anew the assurance we had given our two 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 laws the line to
(23:01):
an inaccurate length. It is but too easy a matter
to run aground off the coast of Flanders, as 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,
(23:22):
for steamers are more unwieldy and less accustomed to rapid
maneuvering than war vessels. Luckily all went well with us,
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
(23:45):
two captives to the patrol of the port authorities, into
whose care and surveillance they were now entrusted. Our job
for the day was over, and we could joyfully hurry
to our berth. Within the harbor, we passed along the
tremendous quay of the artificial port of Zabruga. It extended
several kilometers and was built by Leopold the second with
(24:07):
English money. It had cost many, many millions, and was
intended to serve quite another purpose than its present one.
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
(24:27):
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,
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
(24:49):
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 the they all
wanted 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
(25:12):
dainties lay in store for them. But even without this incentive,
a tremendous cheer from a thousand throats hailed our appearance
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 Zabruga. Our toe lines were
(25:34):
caught by the eager hands of the sailors, and in
a jiffy we were lying securely alongside the quay, safe
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.
(25:56):
At once. Much gay news was exchanged and also sad
regrets expressed at the loss of dear fallen comrades. Shortly afterwards,
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
(26:19):
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
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
(26:44):
knew what would become of his ship and cargo according
to prize law. But I suspected he found some consolation
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
(27:04):
us had only accomplished his duty. End of Part three
Popular Podcasts
NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal
Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com