The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1914-12-02
Just Before and During
An Attack.
.AMIO SILENCE AND ALERTNEss
Searching Out the Enemy Be.
meath Stormy BillOws
Of the Ocean.
TEMPEST IL FELT IN DEPTHS

telling of an attack by the German
submarine U-26 upon an unmen-
toned British warship is published
by The Zeit. II begins with prepa-
rations for the expedition two
hours before midnight" in order to
make a strike at dawn. The letter,
said to have, been written by men,
Der of the crew of the attacking
boat, follows:
Around the heavy granite rocks
of the long pier monstrously black
in the dark night, the storm sweeps
up the water OF the North Sea i'm
angry waves. Inside the pier, the
water lifts up our submarine in the
regular motion of heavy waves. Ev-
erything is pitch dark. The fact
that many people are hurrying
about on deck is only shown by the
somber figures who now and then
pass in front of the single lantern.
From out of the engine room, al
ready under water, there arises the
sound of heavy pounding and the
weird cracking of the engines,
which are being tried out.
AT 1890 o'clock there is a shrill
whistle from the little bridge, which
stands high above the submarine
and which is covered with heavy
canvas. The officer in command,
dressed in his olskins, gives the
sign of departure. The cables are
loosened. A sharp signal to the en-
CINE room. the sudden whir as the
motor catches. and the U-26 is UNI
der way. The sharp bow plows
through the water.
'On both sides of the ship long
waves are formed, shimmering with
light foam in the blackness of the
sea. We move in a westerly direc
ton. We are going toward the en-
envy. The heavens are covered with
clouds. Not star is visible. a few
feet away from the boat nothing at
all is noticeable. The commander
with his experienced eyes tries in
vain to penetrate through this wall
of solid blackness. The wind is
from aside and the bridge is entirely
flooded with water. No noise is
heard but the heavy droning sound
of the motor and the swish of the
water passing along our sides.
THE earliest signs of dawn APP
pear when suddenly in the near dis
lance there is the sight of Il heavy |
bulk. swinging high above us upon
the water. We pass through the |
long tail of foam which a hostile |
torpedo destroyer has just left be-
hind. speeding toward the east. We
have managed to find our way
through the first line of the enemy's
advance guard. From now on we
must he very careful.
"A signal is heard and men APP
pear upon deck. The boat is pre-
pared for action. The flag pole is
taken down. Part of the bridge is
folded together and well fastened.
The periscope is brought up to the
proper height. Then the entrance
through the combined bridge and
coming tower is Theoretically
closed The tanks are opened and
the in-rushing water tells us that
the boat Is about to submerge. The
gasoline motors stop their endless
song. Electricity will drive us from
no until We shall reappear upon
the water.
"a young Lieutenant is posted at
the p' riscope and looks for the enc
my. The sailors take their position
near the torpedoes. The interior of
the boa, is lighted with two small
electric bulbs. They make the dark
ness visible but give no light. Ev-
erywhere there Is smell of oil.
II is impossible TO speak to each 9TH
er for the noise of the engin and
@ the water. The heat in the small
room is oppressive.
From time to time the officer in
command of the three torpedoes
looks at his watch or at his COM
pass. both of which he carries
around his wrist. lntently the men
all watch the signboard on the wall
In front Of them. The storm which
Is raging upon the surface makes it.
self felt In the depths. Every mo-
tion of the water causes the boat TO
rock up and down, up and down, up
and down.
I'VE think of the advantage of the
man ON board a warship. II his
time comes. he can go down with u
last look at the happy sun and the
blue sky. We see nothing, hear
II the boat is TO go down