Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-10-09
Arrival Of the
German U=b0at
at 'Newport,R.

dnchor In Newport harbor Saturday.
almost before the officials of the
American fleet of warships through
which the stranger had nosed her way,
mad recovered from their astonish-
ment., the undersea fighter had deliv-
cred message for the German ambas =
sador and, weighing anchor, turned
brenton's reef lightship and disappear
Ra beneath the waves just inside the
cSiree-mile limit.
AS she came and went she few the
black and white colors of the German
navy, gun was mounted on the for
ward deck and another aft, while eight
torpedoes plainly visible under the
forward deck gave mute assurance that
the warship was ready for a fight
New Worlds Record
Lieutenant Captain Hans Rose, who
hung up new worlds record in bring
ing an armed submarine in battle ar
ray across the Atlantic, said that he
nad called at Newport simply to mail
letter to Count Won Bernstorff. He
required neither provisions nor fuel
and would be on his way, he said, long
before the "a hours during which a
bellgerent ship may remain within a
neutral harbor, had expired. The sub
marine was In American waters little
over three hours, assuming that she
continued TO sea after submerging
Within that time the German COM
mander paid official visits to Rear Ad-
miral Austin M Knight, commanding
the second naval district, and Rear
Admiral Cleaves, commander of the
destroyer force of the Atlantic fleet,
the latter of whom was found on board
the flagship, and scout cruiser Birm-
lngham. Both American officers re-
turned the brief call promptly.
Allies Ships Warned
While these formalities were being
exchanged wireless messages were
carrying to the ships of the British
and French patrol fleet off the coast,
the warning that hostile submarine
had slipped through British Gordon
and might be expected in the open
sea soon.
Asked for Bremen
Tee first question asked by Capt.
Rose when a motorboat came along
side was: Have you heard from the
Brennan" When he was told there
was no news Of the missing craft his
lace became grave but he made no
comment.
To the naval men the most interest
ing fact disclosed by Capt Rose was
that he had been at sea II days and
still had provisions for three months,
abundant fuel and needed no repairs.
Not so much as bottle of water was
"a NJ, ovsl
and span.
The U-53 was first sighted from land
at Las o'clock Saturday afternoon as
she was entering the inner harbor, es-
corted by the United States subma-
rine DE-. The American had been out
side for maneuvers since morning and
was returning when she came up with
the German. The DE- drawing near the
stranger and making out her type,
sent wireless message to the shore
headquarters of Admiral knight, who
relayed word of the appearance of the
& U-6s to the navy department at Wash
ington. The American submarine pre-
cedec the visitor into the harbor.
4 first report had it that it was the
Bremen which was coming in. The
newspaper man who had watched for
weeks for the merchant submarine
climbed to the tower of the United
States engineers office and with the
aid of powerful glasses made out two
guns on the suhparine. a few min
utes later he was in a motor beat maxi
ing for the craft and was rewarded by
being taken aboard. The U-53 had
made her way through the fleet of 81
United States warships. including de-
stroyers and submarines to an anchor
age 200 yards to the westward OF the
torpedo station
Captain Rose stood on the quarterdeck
as the correspondent came aboard and
after inquiring about the Bremen Said
that he had come in to mail a letter to
Count Won Bernstorff, and asked for the
newspaperman's credentials. The latter
exhibited an Associated Press badge and
was intrusted with the correspondence for
the ambassador. please forward this
letter to Count Bernstorff,' said the cap
tain, land report my arrival. They will
be glad to hear it," The correspondence
contained in single envelope. was mali
ed at the local postoffice at , o'clock an i
should have started for Washington about
an hour later.
Visitors Welcomed
Soon after she had anchored a flock of
pleasure boats surrounded the t-53 and
several persons, including a number of
women, were allowed to come aboard,
They were permitted to roam at will
about the deck, which was in ship shape
Several Of the crew spoke English flu
emily and they gave every attention to
the visitors No attempt was made to
prevent an examination of the boats con-
struction
The us is a monster submarine Her
length is s. metres. or over 200 feet. with
corresponding beam. She apreared big
ger in every way than any of the suhma-
rines of the l. type which are now operat-
ing in Narragansett bay. Her coming
tower and her perscope rose much high
er than those Of the American vessels
Through the periscope the visitors could
plainly see many familiar points in New
port. The vessel was equipped with wire
less. the outfit being built particula ry
strong. The receiving room for the wire
less was just above the coming tower.
The armament consisted of two guns
fore and aft and four torpedo tubes
Ho Nv m ho %,,h u,h{o