The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-02
NOM THE DEPTH
BOMBS OPERATE
Englishman Who Was Cap
I've on U-BOat Describes
sS5 Sensations.

LONDON, July %. - Correspond.
1nct OF The Associated Press Sen
uatl0ns experienced in a German sub.
Ihafine while depth bombs we're being
discharged overhead we're described
recently by q British merchant ship
captain who was a prisoner for fifteen
dayt abroad Q C.boat
h an interview the English com
mahder, captured by the Germans aft.
Or Ms vessel had been torpedoed. re-
lated how the depth bombs shook the
under sea craft and created conster.
nation among the sAilers. In one IN
stance the faces Of the Germans be
came white with fear and all stood
trembling after the first shot. which
vas not near enough 10 destroy the
Submersible. All were expecting a sec.
end discharge.
The English commander reached his
native land after having been impris'
tnea for months at Brandenburg
whore. he said. he and other ship Off.
OerS at times had been harnessed TO
carts which we're used 70 haul mail
and packages from the postofice TO
the prisoners camp.
Seven vessels we're torpedoed by the
Germans while the British captain
was aboard the U-boat. Previously
the English officer had been in com
mand Of merchant vessel which had
also met its fate at the hands Of a sub.
marine crew.
ION the third day after ! had been
taken prisoner" said the captain, Just
after the midday meal. gathered that
the submarine was about TO carry out
IN attack on q convoy which had just
been sighted. The U.bOat approached
submerged for some distance and tor
bedoed a large steamer Our where
Sbouts apparently we're detected,
was told, By an allied light cruiser
for we Owed rapidly to a great depth
Hardy had the submarine reached
an even Keel when We heard and felt
4 tremendous explosion which caused
the U.bOat 70 Vibrats from stem tC
stern. It was q depth charge from the
cruiser.
"The effect on the crew was evi
dent. All stood trembling with faces
blanched with fear, not attempting tC
speak, expecting q second charge, the
result Of which might mean the de
Stfdctlon Of the boat and without the
slightest chance for US 10 escape.
There % no doubt ID my mind o.
the mental attitude OF the crew, for q
vas not the first experience OF the
.nen with q depth charge, and they
had learned from others in the service
what terrible weapons depth bombs
we're Ia the hands Of skillful seamen
"For some moments We waited; en-
einos we're stopped and all means were
taken 70 prevent giving indication o.
Onf position. Minutes seemed like
hours In such q situation. Ill adml
that ! was turning over IN my mint
whether l should see my family again
No additional explosions took place
however, and after remaining SOM
eighteen fathOms deep for q lont
period we continued our voyage,
"A few days later we had anothe
experience with depth charges, o
"Wasser bomber" o. the German sail
orS call them. A sailing vessel hat
Just been sunk BY she'll fire when tWt
allied 0estfoyers were sighted, ant
down We went. By the microphonei
the prOpellers could be heard, and al
the vessels came nearer and neare
We % the submarine could hear III,
thudding quite distinctly. To and FRI
the destroyers went searching for us
Evidently they picked up a clue, 70
there we're two explosions ahead bu
not so near US as that from the cruiser
bat quite close enough to cause tn
Submarine to tremble and then rol
about as though in a heavy sea"
Prison camp conditions in German!
we're described by the British captain
e being deplorable.
Although we were merchant shiJ
captains imprisoned ct Brandenberg
We were made to suffer various indig
Mites" be said.
I'VE were compelled to harness our
selves to carts which We had TO draw
through the streets to the station Of
postoiiice IN order TO fetch our par
cells and any commodities to camp. Il
vas at this camp also that saw three
hundred Russian soldiers working, al