Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1915-06-24
U-51 MADE TRIP TO
CONSTANT|NOPLE
Captain Tells How He Took
Submarine 5000 Miles.
DODGED MANY ENEMY SHIPS

Attacked Four Times on Voyage From
WiIhelmshaven to the DardaneIIes,
but Escaped Each Time by Diving.
Describes How He Sank Two Big
British Warships.
Chicago.-In an interview with cor
respondent of The Chicago Daily
News, cabled from Constantinople on
June 6, Captain Otto Hersing has told
the story of his voyage in the German
submarine U-51 from Wilhelmshaven
to Constantinople, about 5000 miles,
toward the close Of which he sunk the
British battleships Triumph and Ma
jestic.
"We left Wilhelmshaven April 25,"
Captain Hersing said. "When 1 was
told that was going to Constantinople
1 said: Good! That is worth while
let only the first officer and the chief
engineer into the secret to explain the
increased supplies taken aboard. We
slipped quietly out of Wilhelmshaven,
as have so many other submarines go
ing into the war area. We kept on the
surface most of the time, watching for
big ships of the enemy, but failed to
see any for long time, to our great
disappointment.
"Off the coast of England we were
finally fired upon by destroyer and
had to dive for safety, but along the
French coast we encountered no en-
emy. When 100 miles from Gibraltar
we were fired upon by other British
destroyers. We waited outside Gibral-
tar and passed through the strait early
in the morning in plain view, but with
out drawing a single shot or attracting
the least attention. Those were tense
but gratifying hours.
"Once within the Mediterranean the
watch, already exacting. was redou-
bled. Here again we encountered ships
of the enemy near a small island, but
dived to safety under fire. When
passing Malta we were fired upon by
French destroyer, but were untouched.
We then proceeded south of Greece
into the Aegean sea and to the OAR
danelles.
1--WE arrived there on the night pre-
ceding May 25, having come from Will
helmshaven in exactly one month. In
the early morning light we saw the
Triumph and the Majestic lying off the
coast. constantly encircled by destroy
ers. Through the periscope l saw
destroyer coming directly for us. We
dived, and the destroyer passed i'm
mediately over us with a sound like
that Of a motorcar.
1--WE came up Immediately. l took
the button, automatically firing the
torpedo, and the projectile slipped
noiselessly into the water. We dived
again. The explosion which followed
was as terrific as though it had been
in the fore part Of the submarine itself.
"Then we lay hidden two days and
a half" continued Captain Hersing,
"after which we came up again In
the midst Of the British ships. Just be-
fore noon, looking through the peri
scope, 1 saw the Majestic surrounded
by ten ships steaming around her in
constant circle for her protection.
could see the Majestic's sailors ON the
deck taking their monday nap. Shall
I disturb them?" thought. Then. see
ing a welcome space between the en-
circling ships, | pressed the electric
button and the torpedo was going right
1t caught the Majestic little to the
rear Of amidships.
w khot
the bombardment from the ships had
ceased, for they had been shelling the
Turkish land positions.
eve remained submerged for several
hours, and then came to the surface to
find the British ships had disappeared,
and all search for them was in vain.
We reached Constantinople. having
passed forty-two days in the submarine
without rest or change"