The Washington times., 1917-02-21
GIRL PRISONER, 6,
l. U-BOAT MASCOT
SolVeig Jacobsen, Norwegian,
Took Trip on Lusitania's
Destroyer.

COPENHAGEN (via London), Feb.
21.-Solveig Jacobsen, the six-year-
old daughter of a Norwegian ship
master, who has arrived here with
her parents on the way to Norway, has
the distinction of not only being the
first child to make a voyage on a Ger
man submarine, but of being the
guest during the eight-day trip of the
submarine commander who is de-
clared to have sunk the Lusitania-
1.-THE name of the commander of
the German submarine which sank
the Lusitania has never been officially
announced. The latest unofficial an
nouncement of the submarine captain
responsible for that ships destruc-
tion named Capt. Max Valentiner, son
OF the dean of the Sondersburg
CathedraLl
Solveig's father, Isaac Jacobsen,
was the master of the Norwegian ship
Thor II, which was sunk by the sub
marine. The U-boat towed the ships
boats with the crew of twenty-eight
toward land for a time and finally left
them to shift for themselves, but the
commander retained the master, his
wife, and child on the submarine while
he continued the cruise.
Submarines Escape.
The operations, however, were OF
brief duration, for the next ship en-
countered proved to be laden with
ammunition for France. The subma-
rine was so shaken by the terrific
explosion when the steamer was tor
pedoed and by an encounter with a
British destroyer, which all but sank
the U-boat by ramming, that one of
its engines was put out of commits
sion and the commander determined
to make for his home harbor for re-
pairs.
The submarine limped homeward
along a route west of Ireland and
north of the Shetlands, lodging many
British patrol ships and destroyers,
and finally came into port at Helgo-
land in fairly good shape, the crew
having succeeded in repairing the en-
gine on the voyage
Human Side of Man.
Captain Jacobsen, the master OF the
Thor II, in describing his experiences,
dwelt on the human side OF the man
who, he was led to understand, was
the Lusitania's destroyer-as shown
in the treatment of little Solveig.
The child was adopted as a sort
of mascot by the submarine and dec
GRATED with a bit of ribbon from the
commanders Iron Cross, which he re-
ceived for an earlier achievement,
and had the freedom of the ship.
The submarines phonograph played
"Solveig's Song" by. Grieg for the
child and the sailors made a pet of
her during of duty hours.
Got Many Souvenirs.
During the brief stay at Helgo-
land, where the Jacobsens were the
first neutral visitors during the war.
the commander OF the island called
to pay his respects and presented the
child with many souvenirs of her
visit
Captain Jacobsen's description of
the torpedoing of the ammunition
ship shows one of the perils to which
submarines are exposed. The sub
marine had halted the ship, and, ig-
norsnt OF the vessels character. pre-
pared to sink her by Eunfire. to save
torpedoes. The first shot attracted a
British destroyer. which came at full
speed The submarine hastily sub
merged, sending a torpedo at the !
steamer before going under. An ap-
palling explosion followed, which, |
had the submarine been still on the |
surface. might have had even more |
serious consequences.
U-BOat Turned About.
We had no time to see what became
OF the steamers crew. which were in the |
boats near the steamer" said the Nor /
wegian. The submarine was tossed |
about so convulsiveIy by the force OF 1
the explosion that we were all thrown /
down The submarines deck was ripped I
up, and We thought our last hour had !
come"
The destroyer headed at ever-increas-
ing speed for the submerging submarine,
but the U-boat WIS far enough down TO |
escape the full force of the blow. The |
men in the U-boat were thrown hither |
and thither. but a quick examination |
showed that the submarine had not |
sprung A leak. One engine, however,
was disabled and the boat lost part OF |
its maleuvering ability- making aban- |
donment Of the curise advisable.
The return trip was one long success
sion Of ups and downs" the submarine |