Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-10
German Submarine Was Un-
der Water Only About Nine
ty Miles in All, He Says.
DID NOT LEAVE COURSE
IN CROSSING ATLANTIC
Announces He Will Have No More
Trouble in Getting Back-Cargo
Is Worth 81, 100000.

BALTIMORE, Md. July 1o.-Capt.
Konig's own story of the Deutschland's s
voyage across the ocean was told to
newspaper correspondents soon after
he made public his prepared statement.
He laughed at stories of his being
chased far off his course by enemy
vessels, and declared that during the
entire trip the vessel Travelled sub
merged only about ninety miles.
Il have seen," said the captain,
statements that we were forced to go
hundreds of miles out of our course in
ships. That is not so. Why should we
go out of our course, except to sub
merge? That is the simplest and most
effective way to get out of our course.
Besides it is much easier to submerge;
I'VE came to Hampton roads by the
straight course from the English chan
mel We did not come by way of the
Azores. Altogether from Helgoland to
Baltimore we covered $500 miles. or
that distance ninety miles were driven
under the surface Of the water.
Built to Stay Under Four Days.
Throughout the entire trip the Off
GERS and crew were in excellent health
and spirits. OF course. when we were
under water for long spells the air got
very stuffy sometimes. and there was
some inconvenience. but it never was
serious The Deutschland is built to
stay under water for four consecutive
days, so you see we never reached any
where near our submersion limit on this
voyage.
"The ship is much easier to ride in
than a torpedo boat destroyer: much
steadier. Nothing can happen to her,
she is so perfectly built. OF course. she
rolls little at times. but that is no
hardship.
ANY nation that can build a ship like
the Deutschland can do what We did"
The German commander talked with
the smiling enthusiasm Of child and
his eyes fairly glittered as he related
the principal incidents of his remark
able feat.
Crew Drilled for Trip.
There is little to tell of the trip" he
continued. eve left Helgoland June
North sea. Before sailing we conducted
trial trips and drills for the crew for
ten days or two weeks. having pro-
ceeded from Bremen to our starting
point / had never been on a submarine
voyage and all the training I had was
received In the practice trips on the
Deutschland.
Everything went without incident the
first day, but on the second day In the
North sea we were in the zone of the
British cruisers and destroyers. We sight
ed their smoke frequently, but only dived
when we thought there was danger OF otr
being detected. OF course. we were diff
in the water and gave out no smoke. We
did submerge several times in the North
sea, staying under sometimes two hours
and sometimes less. Every time we came
to the surface. If all looked well, we kept
on going. We saw no British battleships
in the North sea, only cruisers and de-
stroyers, or at least what we took to be
British naval vessels.
I'VE did not on the entire trip come
into close proximity with any man-of-
war. We avoided them all. 1t was very
simple.
Went Through English Channel.
From the North sea we went
straight through the English channel,
which is alive with warships, and on
the night OF the fourth day we sub
merged and remained still all night on
the ground on the bottom of the chan
mel. There were lots of cruisers near
US. we knew. and it was very foggy.
So we thought it wise not to take any
chances. and I gave the order to sub
merge for the night and until there
should be clearer weather. The next
morning all was well, and we pro-
ceeded through the channel into the
Atlantic ocean without incident.
Our trip has demonstrated that the
big merchant submarine is practical.
hot has n a
pect the venture to be great financial
success. This ship can carry a cargo
of 1000 tons. and on this trip carried
$50 tons of dyestuffs. valued at $1,000
alone will pay for the cost of the
Deutschland, about 100000. On this
trip we carried no mails. nor did we
carry money or securities. Also we
came without insurance. running en-
tirely at our own risk"
did you bring message from the
kaiser to President Wilson," the captain
was asked.
with emphasis THAT is plain lie"
I'VE will go back again. carrying
whatever cargo there Is for us to take.
And we can go without taking on any
US home And want TO say that it will
be Just as easy to go back as it was to
come over We will have no difficulty
getting out Of the capes. that is, il Brit
come within the three-miie limit to attack
u.s. How soon we shall leave l do not
know. but we will be ready as soon as
we get cargo"
Built. to submerge 800 Feet.
Capt. Konig said that the Deutsch-
land was built for submersion to a
depth of 300 feet. but that it was sell
dom necessary to go more than fifty
feet below the surface.
Tho captain said he had been In the
merchant service for many years, and
that in recent years he had commanded
the Princess Irene and the Schleswig
He paid high tribute to the crew and
hts fellow officers. The chief engineer
is r. Klees; the first officer, F. Krapo-
holt, and the second officer, NJ. Eyring
Capt. Konig said the greatest credit
for the success of the voyage should
be given to Engineer Klees.
He is most entitled to the credit" he
added, land depended upon him
every minute Of the day and night"
As he ended the interview. the cap
tain said he expected the next subma-
.ine merchantmen to reach the United
States within eight weeks.
Steel Tonnage Shows Decrease.