The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1918-08-09
Was Captive In
H1411Sutb 15Days

BY United Press.
: London, July L. -(By mail. -
Among those who recently have been
released from German prison camps
and who have reached this country
via Switzerland is a captain of a
merchant vessel who was taken pris
. oner by the commander of subma
rine after his vessel had been torpe
doed, and who spent Is days in the
U-boat This was the second ship
in which the British captain had been
torpedoed
The captains story follows:
my ship was torpedoed without
warming The force Of the explosion
was so great that the bridge was
wrecked, and when | recovered from
the shock | found the ship was sink
ing. None Of the crew was injured !;
and we were all able to get away in
the boats.
"As we were in British waters,
and it was broad daylight l did not
fear that we would not soon reach
land, but hardly had we pulled clear
of the sinking ship than the U-boat
emerged The commander summon
ed us to his vessel, and ordered me
to go on board. After asking for de-
tails of my ship and cargo, he told
me to consider myself prisoner
and sent the boats away | was at
once taken below and the vessel
dived.
From what some English speak
ing members of the crew told me the
submarine had been away from her
base for some days. She was fair
ly large craft, of recent numbering,
having three torpedo tubes, two in
the bows and one aft, and carrying
ten torpedoes. She was also armed
with 4-inch gun just forward Of
the coming tower. l had arrived
just in time for the midday meal,
stew with stringy meat which was
probably horseflesh, small portions
of sausage, and black bread This
bread as the voyage progressed be-
came mildewed and then some bread
of lighter color which had been kept
in an Theoretically. sealed receptacle
was served out, but was even more
unpalatable than gthe black bread.
The other meals were breakfast and
supper at which coffee, made of
burnt barley and acrons, was served.
"The commander and officers Of
the U-boat Jared the same as the low
sr ratings, but were able to supple
ment their allowances with timed |
ham Life on board the submarine
was by no means pleasant. Forced
as we were to keep below the sur
face to avoid the British war vessels
the boat sweated and all spare cloth
ing became saturated with moisture, |
while the atmosphere often became !
very foul, and breathing difficult. |
While we were below surface the !
crew would switch en- the talking |
machine. That was the band which |
played triumphantly when the U-boat
got victim Sinking of an inno- |
cent merchantmen caused that crew
as much joy as if they had sunk
war vessel.
Seven Victories"
while | was on board we had
victory music on seven occasions,
for six steamers were torpedoed, and
one sailing vessel sunk by gunfire,
80 shells being necessary to do this.
The U-boat also attacked by gun
fire several other steamers during
the voyage; but had to submerge, ow-
ing to Intervention of British war
vessels.
"On the third day | gathered that
the U-boat was about to carry out an
attack on a convoy which had been
sighted. The boat approached under
water for some distance, and torpe-
doed a large steamer Our wherea-
bouts were evidently detected for we
lived rapidly to a great depth. Hard
y had the boat got on an even keel
when we heard a tremendous explo-
sion which caused the submarine to
gibrate from stem to stern. 1t was {
, depth charge The effect on the
crew was evident All stood trem-
bling, with faces blanched with fear,
lot attempting to speak word, ex-
)ecting a second charge. For some
we waited Engines were
stopped and all means were taken
o prevent giving away our position.
Minutes seem like hours in such
situation. | must admit that | was
urning over in my mind whether
hould ever see my family again. No {
urther explosions, however took !
lace, and after lying some eighteen /
athoms deep for a long period we t
continued on cur voyage.
Dreaded eWasser Bomnen."
I'VE had another experience with
epth charges, or 'wasser bombens"
C tho Carmen caiIors called them