Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-06-29
"he Deserter"A s;;;:$!i5s'::s:: s;2:s! W VIZ %
"High Commands Brutality
Brunsbual Punishment Camp: Lectures on Brutalism


bases to the mouth of the Kiel canal
on the Elbe, it was natural that the in
tensity of our naval movements was
most obvious at that region. Near the
Medam Sand where there is a clear
channel about six fathoms deep, more
than twenty mighty dredges were busy
day and night, broadening the water
way.
Hundreds of scientific divers were
engaged in removing certain vessels
mysteriously sunk in the channel.
have heard many versions regarding the
sinking Of these ships. was told, once
by an officer stationed at Cuxhaven
since the war, that eight ships of heavy
displacement were sunk in the road
way. But nobody knew to a reasonable
certainty how many ships went to the
bottom or how they went. am under
the impression that there has been some
kind Of serious disorder some ships
were sunk, but as to the identity of
the number of the sunken vessels only
the very highest officials knew the
whole truth. If it is true that such a
serious disorder took place it is natur-
al that none of the seamen who took
part in it would be available to tell the
tale. But this much is fact, that during
my commission at Cuxhaven hundreds
of divers were at work mining objects
under water and mighty dredges were
employed in removing obstacles thus
scattered about below the surface. Af-
ter every explosion following the min
ing of these objects under water the
surface of the water would be covered
with woodwork that goes into the fur.
nishings of q ships interior. Immed-
lately a fleet of heavy-bottomed drift
ers with wire nettings would sweep
the area between Platenerdau and Cux.
haven, width of about nine or ten
miles.
Altogether stayed at CuKhaven only
one week. During this period / spent
my mornings on board my submarine
superintending the very necessary re
pairs to her machinery while one houi
of my afternoon spent at the officers
lecture room, addressing younger off
GERS of our undersea craft on submarine
cruising, and following on the char
map the areas through which the navi
eating of submarines is the most criti
cal and hazardous proposition.
spent the rest of my afternoon il
making visits to the various works al
the harbor. 1t must be kept in mind thai
certain inner portions of the harbor
repair dockyards, assembly docks ant
experimental stations are closed to al
naval men in active duty. The off
GERS on active sea duty are not per
mitted to know much. The reason. fo
such a precaution is that in case of de
sertion or capture by the enemy thes,
men would know very little that is es
sential to impart to our enemies.
But too many things are happening
at our bases to be successfully kept Sc
cret from the Officers mess room. Fo
instance, one of the divers employed il
mining a certain sunken vessel at tn,
mouth of the Ellie told fellow office
that the war vessels that were sunl
were the "Wittelbach" and "Mark
garf.n The woodwork that came to tn.
surface after the mining Of the ship
were the uneontrovertible evidence O.
identity. Yet every naval officer a
any one Of our bases knows, that two o,
our battle cruisers this very day. bea
these names. The natural conclusion i
that Immediately after the destruction
of the two war vessels that original.
bore these names our admiralty mus
have renamed others with these titles.
1t is common knowledge among tn
naval circles at our bases that nearly a
many of our war vessels that took par
in the battle of Jutland were lost t
us later as were admitted by our admin
atty.
Therefore it is possible that it is som
of the vessels that made for our HON
ports after the battle Of Jutland tina
sank in the waters Of Weser.
During my short submarine commits
sion at Cuxhaven was perfectly awar
Of the fact that at any time an orde
would transfer me to another commits
siGn. Once or twice l even received in
tination that would be sent to Emdet
where I would be put in charge of
station training raw rcruits in the ur
der-sea service. But instead, one day
received an order that I would board
certain destroyer and sail for HeligC