Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-11-18
Io,oa Naval Officer Escapes Hun Prison

chant officers taken by the raider
Wolf
"Among the line officers there were
few live wires. but most were con-
tent to sit back. eat Red Cross food
and hope after eighteen months 10 ne
informed in Switzerland for the dura-
ton OF the war. I did not wish my
fellow navy officers any hard luck. but
I could not help wishing for a few OF
my brother officers that ] could have
depended upon.
"on oct. I II was decided 10 shift all
the Russian officers to the north OF
Germany. This we knew meant
thorough search. At this time I had n
complete set OF tools. over 100 large
screws taken from doors and four
long chains made out OF wire which
had previously enclosed the tennis
court Many men were caught in the
search. but our only loss was some
ladder material which we had prepared
out OF bed stats after prolonged
effort,
Finally Makes Escape.
ION Sunday. Oct. 6, the day before
the Russians were to move, called
meeting in my barracks OF the twelve
other officers who knew were Inter
ested in getting away. ] insisted that
we go that night. Our plan was to cut
thru or get over the fences In various
parts of tho yard multaneously. we
divided into four teams. I took the first
team. which consisted Of two aviators
and myself.
"The defensive works OF the camp
consisted first Of the barred windows
in the barracks. then ditch filed with
barbed wire and surrounded by =
barhed wire fence. Outside the ditch
was another barbed wire fence about
10 feet high with the top wires curved
inward TO prevent anyone from asimo-
/ ing over. On the outside Of this was
line of sentries. one about every thirt!
yards. WHALE inside the yard two SEN
tries patrolled at their discretion.
"It was planned that :he first team
should cut the iron grating OF me
window in my barracks and launch
bridge over the opening out OF the top
of the outer barbed wire fence. over
this we were to crawl and drop out
side the wire. The second team had
wire cutters and were to cut thru the
outer wire. The third team were TO
60 out of the main gate when the
guard was in pursuit OF the other
team. The fourth team were to buiio
a small ladder and climb over the
outer fence.
AT 10: 80 that night the barrack
lights went out as usual. shortly
afterwards the signal was given ana
the team consisting Of doctors threw
the chains ana short circuited all the
light circuits in the camp. AS the
lights went out my team threw the
bridge across and the three of us got
out.
"Sentries tried to halt us and then
fred but as we were in total DARK
ness their shots went wild. ] continued
on for about two miles to where 1 had
a rendezvous with another OF the
party. Meeting him we walked thru
the mountains for seven nights. Our
walking was done at night and in the
day we hid in the fields and woods.
Our food was anything that we could
get. and mostly cabbage leaves. At :
o'clock Sunday. oct. II. We swan the
Rhine in the vicinity of Heuensteih
and were then on Swiss territory. The
Swiss turned us over to the American
legation at Berne, from whence | pro-
ceeded to London by way of Paris.
know that of the thirteen officers VINO
attempted escape at ,least five were
able to get out of the camp and at
feast three of JUS arrived safely IN
.Syitzefland."1r
phe official report made tot the navy
department by Lieutenant lsaacs is
remarkably complete in detail. 1t de-
scrihed Infinitely the Usboat on when
he was prisoner and MS account OIL
the voyage while he was thus held
reads as complete as the German
shippers own log. Al; of the shipping
passed each day when he was OF. DECK
is carefully noted. He also gives a de-
tailed description of the fortifcatNpns
Of the harDor of Kiel and OF the maneu-
verS taking place from time to Tune.
The young lieutenant says he owes
the success in going thru such STRAIN
to the fine physical condition IN when
he had always kept himself. He looked
the picture of health when he reported
to Secretary Daniels.