South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-05-07
TELLS Of CAPTURE
OF U-BOAT UC39
Dutch Correspondent Relates
Incidents Surrounding
Sinking of U-bOat SO.

LONDON. May Z. - Tuesday. the
third anniversary of the sinking of
the Lusitania, will be observed by
special prayers in many English
churches and by services at the
Lusitania GENE tery in Queenstown.
An American naval detachment will
take part in the observance at
Queenstown.
In connection with the German
unrestricted submarine warfare, of
which the sinking of the Lusitania
is one of the most striking eX
amples. an account has just reach
ed London from a Dutch cores
pondent Of the destruction o. the
German submarine UC39 and the
capture of Il Of her crew by a
British destroyer CThe German
submarine UC39 was sunk in the
North sea in March, 1910
The UC39 was commanded by
Otto Ehrentraut, who was a close
friend of Prince Henry of Prussia
Henry's castle at KEEL Before
Ehrentraut left Kiel in command of
the new mine laying submarine 80
Prince Henry came 10 the pier TO
wish the boat bon voyage.
The submarine left its base at
midnight, carrying several torpe-
does and a large quantity of gun
ammunition. but no mines. as this
was her first trip and in the nature
of a shakedown for the officers and
men. All of her personnel had seen
, service in other submarines.
Gets First Victim.
The submarine secured her first
victim by sinking the Norwegian
steamship Hanskinck, formerly the
American Saille) the crew of which
! escaped in boats. Next midnight
the 80 sighted the British steamer
Hanna Larsen. which was sunk by
bombs after her captain and chief
engineer were taken aboard the
/ submarine as prisoners.
The next morning the Norwegian
steamship Ida was sighted and al
though the Ida stopped immediate
/ ly, Ehrentraut gave personal orders
! to continue firing. When the Ger
man gun layer saw that the ship
/ had stopped and several direct hits
/ had already been made. according
to this account, he asked if he
should cease firing. and was told by
/ the commander to keep on. Twenty
five rounds in all were fired, the
last few at a range of less than
| 5000 yards.
Leave Dead Bodies.
When the Germans finally ceased
| firing, one of the Idas boats came
alongside and announced that two
wounded men had been left aboard
| the steamer. The submarine COM
mander sent a boat over and found
that both men already were dead,
/ having been killed while lowering
the boats. The Germans left the
bodies where they lay and proceed
ed to sink the ship by bombs
Two hours later the 3S opened
! fire on a steamer and trawler. but
on diving, lost them in the mist.
About l p. m. the SO came 10 the
! SuIldNt AGAIN anu SlBIlLtQ a steamer
on which she opened fire. but was
answered almost Immediately by a
salvo from a British destroyer. The
I 80 had evidently met a sterner or
der of things and she dived, but
too late.
A depth charge struck her, caus-
ing a leak in the coming tower
Water poured into the control
room and the crew became panic
| stricken. The submarine came
sharply 10 the surface only 20 re-
ceive a volley Of shells from the de.
stroyer. Ehrentraut and six other.
Of the crew were killed. The de
stroyer hailed the submarine and
ordered her TO halt This beins
done, fire ceased and II survivor.
were taken off, as we'll as the two
British prisoners, who were unin
jured.