The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-12-03
HOW A SUBMARINE ATTACKS.
Member of Crew Writes of Sinking
of Big Battleship.

is not given. is published in the
Zetu. 1t begins with preparations
for the expedition two hours be-
fore midnight" in order to make a
strike at dawn. The letter, said to
have been written by a member OF
the crew of the attacking boat, then
adds:
A sharp signal to the engine
room, the sudden whirl Of the motor
catches and the U-26 is under way.
We move in a westerly direction.
We are going towards the enemy.
The heavens are covered with
clouds. 4 few feet away from the
boat nothing is noticeable at all. The
wind is from a side and the bridge
is entirely flooded with water. No
noise is heard but the heavy, dron-
ing sound of the motor and the swiss
of the water passing along our sides.
Signs of Dawn.
THE earliest signs of dawn ap-
pear when suddenly in the near
distance there is the sight of a
heavy hulk swinging high above us
upon the water. We pass through
the long tail of foam which 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 be very careful.
"A signal is heard and men ap-
pear upon deck. The boat is pre-
pared for action. The flag pole IS
taken down. Part of the bridge is
folded together and we'll fastened.
The periscope is brought up to the
proper height. Then the entrance
through the combined bridge and
coming tower is hermetically 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 now
until we shall reappear upon the
water.
Looking for WarshiD.
"a young lieutenant is posted at
the periscope and looks for the enc
my. The sailors take their position
near the torpedoes. The interior OF
the boat is lighted with two small
electrics bulbs. They make the
darkness visible, but give no light.
Everywhere there is a stale smell of
oil. The heat in the small room IS
oppressive.
"Intently the men all watch the
sign board on the wall in front Of
them. The storm which is raging
upon the surface makes itself felt
in the depth. Every motion 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 ,warship. If his
time comes he can drown with a last
look at the happy sun and the blue
sky. We see nothing, hear nothing.
If the boat is to go down we shall
all suffocate in the darkness under
water.
Commands Given.
Suddenly we all jump up and
forget hot and bad air and discom-
fort. In small lighters letters the
sign board says attention. The Of
ficer in command holds the lever
which will release the first torpedo.
The sailors make ready to launch the
second one as soon as the first shall
have gone. A few seconds pass. We
must be very near the enemy. Sud-
denly the first sign disappears. Half
a second later and the red glowing
letters say fire. With single jerk
the lever releases the torpedo. A
short metallic click, the noise Of the
water rushing into the empty tube
and all is over. The second torpedo
is at once pushed into the tube. A
few seconds later and the interior
of the submarine looks as before the
attack began.
What of Torpedo?
"But what of the first torpedo?
Did she reach her goal? Instructive
ly we have all kept count-one hun
dred meters, two hundred meters,
three hundred meters-four hum
dred. Under water no sound pene-
trates. We only hear the noise of
our engines. We wait. Nothing
happens. Then suddenly we are all
thrown together by the jerky move
ment of the boat. Twice or three
times more we feel that we have
changed our course very abruptly.
Then the boat rolls as before.
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