Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-11-26
ATTACK BY SUBMARINE l.
upon. BRITISH WARsH|P
Letter Written by Member OF Grew
of the German U-28 Paints
Vivid Picture.
NO SOUND HEARD UNDER WATER
Terrible Strain Under Which Men
Labor as Preparations Are Made;
Then tho Abrupt Change ia Course
and Realization Of Success.

lCorrespondence OF Associated Press:1
THE HAGUE, November ia letter
telling of an attack by the German
submarine U-2s upon g. British war;
ship. the name Of which is not given.
Ia published In the zeit It begins
with preparations for the expedition
two hours before midnight" in order
TO make strike at dawn. The letter,
! said to have been written by member
of the crow OF the attacking boat, then
adds:
"A short. sharp signal to tho engine
room. the sudden whirr as the motor
catches. and the uz2s Is under way.
We move in q westerly direction. We
are going towards the enemy.
The hoavens are covered with
clouds. few feet away from the
boat nothing is noticeable at all The
wind Is from aside, and the bridge is
entirely flooded with water. NO noise
Is heard but the heavy dronfng sound
OF the motor and the swish OF the
water passing along our sides.
The earliest signs OF dawn appear.
when suddenly In the near distance
there Is the sight OF a heavy bulk.
swinging hish above us upon the
water. We pass through the long tall
of feaxa whtch hostile torpedode-
stroyer has just left behind, speeding
towards tho east. We have managed
| to find our way through the first line
of the enemy's advance guard. From
BOAT CAREFULLY
PREPARED FOR ACTION
IN signal Is heard and men appear
| upon deck. The boat Is prepared for
action. The fiagpole is taken down.
Part OF the bridge Ia folded together
and well fastened. The perisoope Is
brought up to the proper height Then
the entrance through tho combined
| bridge and coming tower is hermeti-
oally closed. Tho tanks are opened,
"a nd IN n nn fAr snll
the boat 10 about to submerge. Tho
gasoline motors stop their endless
song. Electricity will drive us from
| now until We shall reappear upon tho
| wntnr.
"A young lieutenant is posted at the
periscope. and looks for the enemy.
J The sailors take. their position near
the torpedoes, The interior OF the
boat is lighted with two small electric
| bulba. They make the darkness visI-
their Is smell of oil. The heat In
the email room lie oppressive
| "From time to time tho officer in
command of the three torpedoes looks
at hiH watch or at his compass. both
\ OF which he carried around his wrist.
| Intcntly the men al watch the sign
| board on the wall In front of them.
Tho storm which Is raging upon the
surface makes itself felt in the depth,
Every motion OF tho water causes the
Il
| down and UP nnd down.
| AHINK OF ADVANTAGE
| OF MEN ON wARSHIP
| I'VE think OF the advantage OF the
man on board OF a warshiD. II his
time Gomez. he can go down with a
last look Of the happy sun and the blue
| sky. We see nothing. hear nothing,
II tho boat la to go down. we-.ahall
nil suffocate In the darkness under
water.
Suddenly we all Jump up and for
get heat and bad air and discomfort.
In small lighted letters the signboard
sayn, Attention Tho .oftlcer IN COM
nand holds the lever which will re-
make ready to launch the second one
as soon as the first shall have gone.
A fow seconds pass. We must be very
near the enemy. Suddenly the first
sign. disappears. Hair a second later
and the red glowing lettors say. Fire
With single Jerk the lever releases
The torpedo. short metallic click,
the noise OF the water rushing into
the empty tube and ali Is over, The
second torpedo ia At once pushed into
tho tube. a few seconds later and the
;, Interior OF the submarine looks as be-
!, fore the attack began.
but what OF the first torpedo7 Did
she reach her goal7 Instinctiyely we
all have kept eount--1oo metres. zoo
metres. 300. 800. Under water no
sound penetrates. We only hear tho
noiue Of our engines. we wait. Moth
Ing happens, Then AuddenIy we arc
all thrown together by the jsrky
movement OF the boat. Twice or three
times moro We feel that we haye
changed our course very abruptly.
Then the boat rolls a. before. The
regular purring OF the engines Ia
heard. Our submarine Ia rapidly NOV
Ing eastward.
cARRAHz syyppnpnvnua
In Ell. PA4A IIIHII. 4 RT