Iditarod pioneer., 1914-12-05
HOW GERMAN SUBMARINE
 SANK BRITISH WARSHIPS

DAWN DNi \ iSAE HNCl2li J
 A story is printed in New York news paper which purports to be an account of the sinking of the three British cruisers, Aboulir, Hogue and Greasy, in September last, by the German submarine U9. The account is by Captain Lieutenant Otto Wed digen, commander of the submarine, who after giving some intimate personal de tails, continues:
 T set out from North sea port on one of the arms of the Kiel canal and set my course in q southwesterly direction, Not many days elapsed before, on the morning of September P, I fell in with my quarry.
 When I started from home the fact was kept quiet and heavy haze helped to keep the secret, but when the action began the sun was bright and the water smooth not the most favorable conditions for sub. marine work 1 had sighted several ships during my passage, but they were not what was seeking. English torpedo boats came within my reach, but felt there was bigger game further on, so on 1 went l traveled on the surface except when l sighted vessels and then I submerged, not even showing my periscope, except when 1t was necessary to take bearings It was ten minutes af-er when I cau~ht sight of one of the big cruisers of the enemy. l was then eighteen sea miles northwesterly of the Hook of Hol land 1 had then travelled considerably more than POO miles from my base. My boat was one of an cid type, but she had been built on honor and she was behaving beautifully. 1 had been going ahead par tiay submerged with about five feet of my periscope showing Almost immediately 1 caught sight of the first cruiser and two others I submerged completely and laid my course so as to bring up in the center of the trio, which held sort of triangular formation I could see their gray black sides riding high over the water. When l first sighted them they were near enough for torpedo work, but I wanted to make had taken the position of the three ships before submerging, and l succeeded in get ting another flash through my perlscope before l began action. l soon reached what l regarded as a good shooting point.
 "1hen l loosed one of my torpedoes at the middle of the ship. l was then about twelve feet under water, and got the shot off in good shape, my men handling the boat as if she had been skiff 1 climbed to the surface to get a sight through my tube of the effect, and discovered that the shot had gone straight and true striking 1 the ship which 1 learned later was the 1 Aboukir, under one of her magazines, which in exploding helped the torpedo's work of destruction.
 There was a fountain of water a burst of smoke a flash of fire, and part of the cruiser rose in the air. Then 1 heard a roar and felt reverberations sent through the water by the detonator. She had been broken apart and sank in few minutes The Aboukir had been stricken in a vltal spot and by an unseen force that made the blow all the greater.
 "Her crew were brave, and even with death staring them in the face kept to their posts. ready to handle their useless guns, for I submerged at once But l stayed on top long enough to see the other cruisers, which I learned were the Greasy and the Hogue, turn and steam full speed to their dying sister, whose plight they could not understand, unless it had been due to an accident. The ships came on a mission of inquiry and rescue, for many of the Aboukir's crew were now in the water, the order having been given, "Each man for himself"
 But soon the other two English cruisers learned what had brought about the de | struction so suddenly. As l reached my torpedo depth l sent second charge at the nearest of the oncoming vessels, which was the Hogue. The English were playing my game, for 1 had scarcely to move out of my position which was great aid, since 1t helped to keep me from detection.
 "The attack on the Hogue went true, But this time did not have the advan- tageous aid of having the torpedo detonate under the magazine, so for twenty minutes the Hogue lay wounded and helpless on the surface before she heaved, half turned over and sank. By this time the third cruiser knew of course, that the enemy was upon her, and she sought as best she could to defend herself. She loosed her torpedo defense batteries on boats, star board and port, and stood her ground as
 if more anxious to help the many sailors who were in the water than to save her self In common with the method of de lending herself against submarine attack, she steamed in a circular course, and thia