The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-11-11
DEUTSCHLAND GETS
NOTABLE OVATION
UPON ITS RETURN
/. TOTHEFATHERLAND
War Vessels, Waterplanes
and Factories Join in Civ
ing Welcome to Under
sea Boat
WREATHS OF ROSES
ON COMING TOWER
Great Banquet at Bremen, Where
Speakers Tell How Idea of First
Commercial Submarine
Originated
BY CAPT. PAUL KoENIG

A fair and favorable wind accompanied
US during the last part of our journey
But once more, for the last time, the
alarm signal had to be given. 1t was
o'clock in the morning, at far distance
an object had come in sight which looked
like the sail of boat, although Of some
what peculiar shape. When 1t came
closer, it proved to be the coming tower
OF a U-boat with it's deck hardly reach
ing the level of the surface.
We now had before us an interesting il
lustration Of how we ourselves looked al
a distance of three sea miles. But, in
stead of making useful observations o.
this. we were more concerned to find ou
as quickly as possible whether we hat
a German or an English U-boat before
us. In the meantime, we preferred tt
be seen as little as possible, and pre-
pared to rush below at any moment.
Already several of the tanks were
filled, the waves swept over and splashee
against the coming tower, and ever
this is partly covered by the green bill
lows, when, suddenly, a well known flae
signal was hoisted on high, assuring III
that a German U-boat was before us
The next moment we answered, while
at the same time I commanded that thu
water be blown out of the submergine
tanks.
With such happy heart I had never
given a command on the Deutschland
and it was carried out cheerfully when
/ called down to the central:
'Hurrah! The first German U-boat in
sight,
FIRST GERMAN GREETING
What did it matter to us that we were
standing in oil and ocean water on the
coming tower and the partly submerged
deck and that the waves were splashine
over us? There, over the green water
the first greeting came from our faith
erland. With full speed ahead" we now
went forward. All the men were on deck
and, in few minutes the boats were
within hearing distance of each other
The first roaring hurrah penetrated thu
air toward u.s. only to receive as pow
erful a return.
and we then departed from each other
we toward home and they for the tasl
of war.
The day once more drew to a close
We journeyed on our way without light
OH the coming tower and deck, just a:
a dark shadow.
But when the sun the following morn
ing arose above the horizon, we per
ceived in the far distance characteris
tic silhouette, which, with red-lik'
glimmer, broke through the hazy vale
Our bulwark in the North sea, Hell
goland, was lying before us.
Soon everything began to assume {
lively appearance about us. Torpedo
boats rushed forward. Ships on guart
approached, smoking copiously. Flag sig
nails were hoisted. Wireless message.
flashed out. Wavings and greetings came
from all directions, and the German
fleet closed it's iron ring around the
little Deutschland. With it's protection
we continued our course, passing by
Heligoland, and toward our harbor of des
tination. a
GREETED BY WATERPLANES
We approach the well known waters
but before the sandy, open course t
our home was seen, we became spec
tators of an overwhelming sight.
From shore arose two hydroplanes, high
in the air, and rushed forward with flu
rious speed. and then, two gigantic birds
descended upon the rippled water? Sur.
rounded by spraying cascades, they glide
along the surface toward the Deutsch.
land, until they were a stones throw
distance away from US, when, like 9
streak of lightning, they turned sharply
and fled by u.s. turned again, came back
and actually leaped over us, sweeping
by the coming tower in the midst Of
hurrahs and waving caps.
This was the German navy's younges,
weapon which gave us our greeting. A
comparison forced itself upon me.
One certainly cannot receive heartiel
and more enthusiastic reception thar
what we experienced when on sailing
into Baltimore's harbor. A free people
rejoced over the daring deed, and ex-
tended their sympxthies toward our en-
terprise. which hitherto had been an
unheard of adventure, and which re-
Quired men to accomplish it.
But here we were something else than
daring Adventures, who had met with
good fortune. Here we were received by
our own pople, as peaceful fellow war
riors in the great struggle, and here we
felt the exultant feeling of their mighty
strength below the ocean, on the ocear
and in the air.
This was for me the significance ane
meaning Of the magnificent greeting Of
the flyers. When the ships on guard
protecting us assuringly, accompanied II:
to the mouth of the Weser, then we close
by Hohenweg's lighthouse threw our an
Choir for the first time on German bot
tom.
VOYAGE UP THE WISER
At Heligoland, the whole navy had me
us and accompanied us to the mouth o.
the Weser On the trip up the Wesel
and to Bremen a whole nation received
us and made us welcome
On August 23. in the afternoon, thu
Deutschland dropped her anchor outside
of the Weser. The telegraph had car
ried the anxiously awaited message al
over Germany, and everywhere the re-
,joicing was without limit. With as
tonishment and joyful pride, we saw how
Deutschland's arrival became great fes-
tival and a day of rejoicing for tht
people Of all Germany, who made ready
for thu little boat a reception which
never :. lucky ship had received be.
fore. Our Journey up the Weser took
the form of procession of triumph with.
out its equal.
Rahi,,I rf 1S