The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-14
Coming Up With the English


 was kept quiet and a 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 submarine work
 mad sighted several ships during my passage but they were not what l was seeking. English torpedo boats 9camo witnln my reach but felt there was bigger game further on so of, I went l travelled on the surface except when we sighted vessels, and then | sub- merged, not even showing my peri scope, except when it was necessary to take bearings. It was 6:1O o'clock in the morning of last Tuesday when [ caught sight of one of the big, cruisers of the enemy.
 l was then IS sea miles northwesterly- Of the Hook of Holland. I had then travelled considerably more than 200 miles from by base. My boat was one of an old type, but she had been built on honor and she was behaving beauti- fully l had been going ahead partially submerged with about five feet of my periscope showing. Almost immediately caught sight of the first cruiser and two others. ! submerged completely and laid my course so as to bring up in cen ter Of the trio, which held sort of tri- angular formation. l could see their gray black sides riding high oyer the water
 When l first sighted them they were near enough for torpedo work, but wanted to make my aim sure, so I went down and in on them. I had taken the position of the three ships before submerging and I succeeded in getting another flash through my peri scope before l began action. I soon reached what I regarded as a good shooting point.
 Straight and True Then l loosed one of my torpedoes at the middle ship. l was then about 12 feet under water and got the shot off in good shape, my men handling the boat as if she had been a skiff. climbed to the surface to get sight through my tube of the effect. and dis covered that the shot had gone straight and true, striking the ship, which I later learned was the Aboukir, under one of her magazines which in explod- ing helped the torpedos work of de- struction.
 There was fountain of water, burst of smoke, a flash of fire and part of the cruiser rose in the air. Then I heard roar and felt reverberat (,ns sent through the water by the detona- tion. She had been broken apart and sank in few minutes. The Aboukir had been stricken in vital 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 had stayed on top long enough to see the other cruisers, which learned were the Greasy and the Hogue, turn and steam full speed to their dy- ing sister, whose plight they could not understand, unless it had been due to an accident
 The ships came on mission of in- quiry and rescue, for many of the Abou- kirs crew were now in the water, the order having been given. leach man for himself"
 The Second Victim
 But soon the other two English crui- sers learned what had brought about the destruction so suddenly
 As I reached my torpedo depth sent second charge at the nearest of the oncoming vessels, which was the Hogue. The English were playing my game, for I had scarcely to move out of my position, which was a great aid, since 1t helped to keep me from detec- ton.
 On board my little boat the spirit of the German navy was to be seen in its best form. With enthusiasm every man held himself in check and gave attention to the work in hand.
 The attack on the Hogue went true But this time I did not have the ad- vantageous aid of having the torpedo detonate under the magazine, 50 for 20 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 tor pcdo 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 herself In common with the method of defending herself against a submarine attack, she steamed in a zig-zag course. and this mads 1t neo-