Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-11-27
we See Nothing.

The Hague, Nov. pa letter tell
ing of an attack 10y the German sub.
marine U-26 upon an unmentionen
British warship is published by Inc
Zeit. It begins with preparations for
the expedition two hours before mid
night" in order TO make a strike at
dawn. The letter. said to nave been
written by g umhe % tbs crew OF
the attacking boat, follows: !.
Around the heavy granite ROCKS OF
the long pier, monstrousiy black IN
the dark night, the storm sweeps up
The water of the North sea in angry
waves. Inside the pier the wat + llfts
ND our submarine in the regular mo
ton of heavy v Everything Is
pitch dark. The fact that many peo-
ple. are hurrying about on deck Is only
shown by the somber figures who
now and then pass III front OF the
single .antern. From out OF the en-
CINE room, already under water, there
arises the sound of heavy pounding
and the weird cracking of the en-
SlNeS WulSu oiC oSAhS .
The start.
AT half past ten there is a sni1ii
whistle from the little bridge VINCE
stands high above the submarine II
which is covered with heavy canvas.
The officer in command dressed IN
his oil skins, gives the sign OF de-
The cables are loosened. a
Short sharp signal 10 the engine room
the sudden whirr as the motor catch
es. and the U.26 is under way. Il
sharp bow plows through the water.
On both sides OF The ship long waves
are formed, ~shimmering with ilght
foam in the blackness Of the sea. We
O in a westerly direction. we are
going towards the enemy.
1.-The earliest signs Of dawn appear
when suddenly in the near distance.
there is the sign of a heavy buik,
swinging high above us upon the wat
er. We pass through the long :ail or
foam which a hostile torpedo de-
stroyer has just left behind, speed
ing towards the east. We have man
aged to find our way through the first
line of the enemy's advance guard.
From now on we must be very care
fui.
Ready for Attack.
a signal is heard and mel appear
upon deck. The boat is prepared 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 com
bined bridge and coming tower Is
hermitically closed. The tanks are
opened and the inrushing waters tells
us that the boa, is about 20 sub
merge. The gasoline motors stop
their endless song. Electricity viii
drive us from now until we shall re-
appear upon the water.
"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 Ell
ectric bulbs. They make the dark
ness visible but gives no light. Every
where there s a stale smell OF oil.
1t is impossible to speak to each 9th.
er with the noise of engine and of the
water. The heat in the small room
is oppressive
From time to time, the officer il
command of the three t%orpedoes
locks al his watch or a. his compass,
botn of which he carries around his
wrist ~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 depths Every motion of the wat