Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-03
MEMORIES OF "U-53"
VIVIDLY RECALLED
Giant Submarine Entertained
at Newport in 1916 Proved
Murderous Marauder

The vision Of "U-53" flashed into the
minds Of the people of the country to-
day when news Of the activities of raid
ers off the Jersey coast was confirmed
by the Navy Department.
The U-53. giant German submarine.
rampaged off Nantucket llghtshp, not
far outside Newport harbor, october
s, 1916, sinking Ave merchant vessels.
Not a single life was lost because Of
the lifesaving race of American de-
stroyers.
Arriving of Newport. r. J.. October
I, 1916. the U-53 caused much con-
sternation and comment in maritime
circles. as we'll as in official Washing
ton. Her arrival caused more excite
ment than did the arrival of the mer-
chant submarine Deutschland the first
undersea craft to negotiate the long dis
tance from German waters to this coun-
try and return.
Long after the U-53 had performed
her daring daylight raid mariners feared
that she still lurked off the coast, and II
was only when official announcement
was made in Berlin that the marauder
has returned safely to her home port
that relief was felt.
Lieutenant Hans Rose was in COM
mand of the U-53. He put off to pay his
respects to Rear Admiral Knight, who
was in command at Newport at that
time. as soon as his undersea boat
rose to the surface and anchored calm
ly beside great number of vessels
of the Atlantic feet which lay in the
harbor. He also visited Rear Admiral
Gleavs. commanding the submarine flo
tilla in the harbor. upon his flagship.
the Birmingham. Both admirals later
returned the visit aboard the alien ,un-
dersea craft.
Meantime. Captain Rose created
greater surprise by permitting great
crowds of visitors to board the U-53
and wander about the decks. The crew
was polite and explained parts Of the
submersible to the visitors. Newspa-
per men were treated with exceeding
politeness. and were given a letter by
Captain, Rose addressed Count Won
Bernstorff, requesting that II be mailed.
He said the letter to Count Won Bern
storff was the reason for the visit
The boat was well-provisioned for a
long voyage. The entire country WON
dered at the visit. ..,r.
All wonder was dispelled the next
morning. however, when word was sent
broadcast that Germany's undersea
warfare had been extended to the very
coast of the United S:ates-that Ave
unarmed and unwarned merchantmen
had fallen victims to the giant sub
marine which the day before had been
In Newport harbor.
The British freighter Starthgena was
sent down at o'clock in the morn
ing. Two hours later the Norwegian
freighter Christian Knudsen was at the
bottom of the sea. The British freighter
West Point. the British passenger line
ship Stephano. and the Dutch freighter
Blommersdijk followed in succession. 1t
was reported that another ship also was
sent down, but this report was never
confirmed. though destroyers searched
the sea for several days for some trace
of members of the crew.
Two hundred and sixteen survivors
of the Ave ships were landed at New
port and cared for at the naval stations.
They told thrilling tales of the attacks.
sinkings and the rescues by American
naval vessels.
Captain Rose and his submarine ar
rived in Germany about October 81.
Stories of the sinkings were given great
publicity in Germany.
Berlin later hinted at a return trip
of the U-53, and 1t was rumored at New
London, Conn.,. that the German armored
submarine U-57, sister ship Of the U.
So, was to act as convoy for the
freighter Deutschland on her return trip
to Germany.