Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-08-09
WAS CAPTIVE IN HUN
SUBMAINE IS DAYS


loud explosions ahead quite near G.
In0ugh 10 cause the submarine first to
tremble and then ro.l about as though
in heavy sea.
Late the following night there was
considerable rejoicing in the submar,
ineGermans had torpedoed an oil tank
er which, according to the Commander,
had sunk in 80 seconds The next
day we seemed to have got out Of the
track of steamers, and went into
the coming tower and saw the Officers
amusing themselves by shooting at
guls or at empty bottles.
----.-, ..... British Sub Near. ........ ........
"By this time the vessel evidently
had reached the extreme outward point
Of her voyage, and on our return trip
three Norwegian ships were stopped
for fresh food just after this there
was more excitement due to the dis
covery that a British submarine was
in our vicinity. The crew could hear
lher, and they seemed in great fear
Hest she should attack. Again we re-
imainei submerged until night.
THE submarine was equipped with
iRowcrfh wireless apparatus, and every
day, about 9 p. m. remained on the
surface in wireless communication
with the base. One of the officers kept
Il record of these messages. One night
the news arrived of the American
dec aration of war 1t was eagerly
discussed by the crew, some of whom
expressed the hope that they would be
allowed to go on submarine service in
the Gulf of Mexico in order to escape
the severity of the North Sea.
Eventually 4he submarine arrived
at Heligoland and | was taken ashore
and handed over to military guard.
My only food was crust of bread
a piece Of cheese and some very weak
soup. After remaining there day
land a half | was taken to Wilhelms-
haven where again there seemed to be
Ia shortage of food and afterwards
to Brandenburg, workingmen S camp,
In which | remained until October 8,
1T was at this camp that got news
of the murder of prisoners who were
forced to remain in hut which had
caught fire, When | arrived a Bran.
denburg was put in a large hut quite
alone
my first night was a terrible ex-
perience 1t was bitterly cold, and
had no covering. | was over-run by
rats, so that | had to give up any
thoughts of rest and tramp the floor
until daylight. That morning | was
given two dirty army blankets and
an old mattress stuffed with paper
and cardboard, on which to sleep.
Here came in contact with 800 vie
tims Of the Moewe, and subsequently
was transferred bo a special part Of
the camp set apart for captains OF the
mercantile marine, of whom there were
about 40. The food was of the coars-
est possible character. From Branden-
burg wen to llozminden, an Officers
camp for all British, where the food
was much better, but we were obliged
to pay considerable sums towards our
maintenance.
" While on our woy to Holzminden
enc Of .the party produced tin of
huttes which we shared with the Ger
MAN officer in charge The tin had
been emptied and was about to be
thrown out of the window when the
officer begged for it and carefully
seraped the whole tin for any remain
ing butter Later | was transferred
10 Strohen where instead Of current
coin Of the realm they issued stamps
as camp money. From Strohen | went
to Heidelberg, and while there at
Christmas time we saw the attacks by
our aviators on Mannheim Three
German aviators who took part in re-
pelling the attack were killed while
trying to alight
- was transferred to Switzerland
and eventually was released and en-
abled to reach England, June 10.
At Brandenburg We were made to
suffer various indignities and were
made 70 harness ourselves to carts
whieh we had to draw through the
streets to the s'ation or postoffice'
10 fetch our parcels and any commod
titles to eamp. It was At this camp
also that saw 300 Russian soldiers
working in the lasi stages Of consump
tion The poor fellows could not get
enough to eat and they would eagerly
scrape discarded tins in the hope Of
finding particles of food. | have even
seen German soldiers do the same
ts,ng We were glad to search the
einder paths in the hope Of finding
coke or coal with which to cook our
food
-----s-e~s----
When the Yankees 90 after them