Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-07
BY CARL FRANK LIST.
Copyright. 1915. by the Star Compan,
Last Installrnent

copyright, 1915. by the Star Company
Last lnstallment.
But the worst Of it was that YOU
could not sleep--things happened You
dropped as dead on the deck and some
one stepped on your insides as the gong
sent all hands to their stations. even
TWO or three times a night. No one
took off his clothes except maybe to
change them. No one washed.
All hands, officers as we'll turned in
jus' as they were, just kicking off their
sea boots before stretching out on their
hunks. The oilers and the machInists
never took off their leather suits-all
simply mass of grease. Worn to
shreds from constant watch keeping, no
one thought about looks.
No wonder they called us the bar
barians' in Helgoland. Myself. never
had my things off. Had two clcanups.
Water was scarce-thcre were eight
more thirsty men added to the ships
company when they picked us up.
Coffee and stew made the main part
of the Erub-the former to keep you
awake. From one sinking British ship
we got some tea, and Spaniard sold
the officers wine and an Italian, cher
ries. They bought butter and eggs
from a Dutchman.
With this hair-triEEer existence
there could be no regularity of meals.
Tho alarm "tauf station" might come
at any time. Down would go the big
collapsible mess table. their supports
kicked out by the men rising on the
.diauble7 apie ah4 + ;Sssilsat, Coffee pot
and nlumni9m dishes few in the air.
Tdnd The StS#s Tspatt2red' the bulkhcad
or your facet was touch and go,
always.
NOT KNOW YOU WE'RE MOVING
WHILE UNDER SURFACE
In spite of the heat from the en-
Eines and their shafting. the air was
damp. When U-39 was running below
the surface the seams in the ceiling
dripped constantly, and even when she
was on the surface there was a trick
ling sweat of moisture. No wet clothing
could be brought inside: the orders
were strict. Ever so often, when near
the surface, the air was renewed, and
If man found his head buzzinG he
would ask permission to open the air
valve in his compartment-a pipe rum
ming through the length Of the U-39-
TO get better air from the reservoir.
Always when the U-3s was navigating,
the roar of machinery and pitch or
roll. kept the nerves strained. Under
water there was no motion, every
thing was as still as rock; you would
not know you were moving. But on
the surface in a bad blow, she rolled,
but slowly. Some men would get sea-
sick-good sailors. too.
without amusement below decks.
dull men were resting like reeling prize
lighters, waiting for the gong for the
next round. One might pull out his
baG and find his clothes all mildewed
and damp. and try little mending.
Or he might have ''mugup' of smoked
herring. with a cupful OF raspberry
Juice. Nothing stronger was allowed
on board. Or he would shine his iron
cross and look at it proudly at arms
length.
For every one In the crew had the iron
cross. second-clasS, with the ribbon.
Captain Forester and the officers had
the same. both first and second.
MEANS SHORTER CRUISE
AND EARLIER FURLOUGH
And rightly they earned it-even tho
extra money for each dive---a dogs
life in steel can always al the brink
OF death. No wonder they were solemn
and taciturn. and their sayety forced
and momenHry. with only an inward
longing to get home. Ea ch torpedo
gone, each sunken ship, each expended
shell. meant a shorter cruise and an
earlier furlough. with a hug from the
Schatz in the village.
But there was no braE. no hero stuff
Just men doing their duty quietly
and in whisper. without hate and
because OF orders Tine officers took
busincss-likc view of their work
and seemed like coEs In the great ma
chnery-not humans. They had an
infinite faith in the U-39. and would
surely perish-first blowing her up
before allowing capture. OF the nets
planted by the British they had full
knowledge and charts. and would sim
ply submergc and so underneath them.
Just as they duckcd the nctswcepS
,owed by the trawlers.
To me, all hands on the German sub
marine U-3a appeared to he kindly
lot. They shared everything with me.
And when life was lost. there was
sorrow.
/ saw nothing but courtesy. hrusque
and hasty. of course, shown to the
crews OF the vessels destroyed.
They made more fuss over the ST,
Bernard dog which was Killed during
the sinking of the French schooner
iiirontielle than If million dollar
steamer had gone down. And this
right before the eyes of two French +.
torpedo boats coming up in chase.
Every command was executed In
stantly. and the disciplin" was .op-
notch. The smallncss OF the boat rs-
tablished a certain chummlncss he
tween officers and men. unknown to a |
big ship. / guess they thought they |
wore likely all to die together.
1t was now a full week since | had |
climbed over the shiny side of the U-39. |
dropped below through n hatch. found !
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