The Washington times., 1919-01-27
SOUGHT
HELP FOR VICTIMS

The only case in the whole black
record OF U-boat warfare, where a
submarine commander sought succor
for his victims. Is believed to be that
Of the U-ss. which torpedoed the
American destroyer Jacob Jones.
A report published today from
Lieuts. Muller and Fulcher, captives
or the U-152, during her last six
weeks cruise against allied shipping,
said they had been told by Capt. Won
Schrader. OF the U-53, that ne had
wirelessed for help after recoenizine
in the water Commander David Bag.
ley. U. 8. N. brother Of the wife OF
Secretary Daniels, whom he had seen
when the U-53 raided of New1ort be-
fore America Joined the war. Navy
records show that a wireless call was
picked up at Queenstown from an un-
identihed course. tending to confirm
Won Schrader's story.
Tell Of Desperate Fight.
The story Of Lieutenants Muller and
Filcher tells OF the desperate fight the
U. s. 8. Ticonderoga waged early on
the morning Of September 30, 1918,
when she fell behind her convoy and
was attacked by U-boat 152.
The Ticonderoga fought the subma-
rine for more than an hour, four of her
men being killed at the 6-inch gun
| and her radio house and superstruc-
| ture being demolished. The U. s. S.
Galveston which reached the ship
just then, forced the German subma-
~ M a. .1xA - n.
minutes II reappeared and again at
| tackled the Ticonderoga. This time
the engine room Of the ship was hit
and within few minutes IL became
apparent that she was doomed.
As the ship began to sink the men
took to the RATS. The U-boat came
to the scene, seized a quantity of
| foodstuffs and managed to seize the
two naval officers. carrying them be-
low as prisoners. Many were the ap-
peals from wounded men hanging
onto the RATS, but the Germans
turned a deaf ear to their pleas. OF
the entire crew only twenty-four were
| saved, 40 being lost.
| Were kindly Trested.
The two American officers were.
treated kindly by the German U-boat
commander. the report says. F'ilcher
was taken to Chief Engineer Heine's
| room, where shrapnel was cut from
his leg and he was given brandy and
overaIls by the ships surgeon.
The U-boat i52 had left Kiel for
her cruise on September 8. She did
not return until November Is.
During the first week the Ameri-
cans were aboard the ship was not
in action. On October IL, however,
she sighted the Norwegian bark Sti-
| finder, which was attacked and footed
before she sank. Her crew was or
! dered to take to small boats and
make for Newfoundland, which was
| 1000 miles away. This action was
taken despite the fact that on the
previous day the commander OF the
U-boat had received a code message
to engage "men-of~war only. The
merchant war has ended"
Once more, on October Is, the order
was violated. An unescorted ship
was attacked, sixty shots being fired.
but the steamer escaped when a de-
stroyer appeared on thesscene. = -
e.. Ordered to Return.
On October 20 orders were received
to return to Kiel. and on November
IL. as the U-152 met the U-53 in the
Skagerrack, the crew LEANED of the
| uprising in Germany. .-
Not knowing what to believe about
the revolution in the fatherland. the
commander Of the U-152 anchored Off
Copenhagen. Later 1t was learned
that all was quiet, but a vote was
| taken among the crew-seventy vot-
| ing to set out for Kiel and ten to re-
main at the Swedish port.
Captain Franz. who commanded the
U-53, then told the two American Of
ficers they were free. s..
"You are no longer prisoners Of
war;" he said. 81 shall protect you at
all hazards. 1 was a gunnery officer
in the battle of Jutland; but during
the past year l have been in subma-
rines, and submarines have been do
ing all the navy's work in the war"
! When Kiel was reached on Novem-
ber Is the Americans were quartered
on the submarine mother ship Kron-
prinz Heinrich. where they got hot
baths and private rooms. but they
continued to mess on the U-152. Then
the executive officer of the Kron-
prinz Heinrich formally released
them as prisoners.
| In discharging them. the officer
said the United States was to blame
| for the war.
Officers Go Ashore.
| "You have ruined our country" he
told them. "See what you have done. "
He then said they were free to so
ashore. but advised against it. They
were told a little later they were
to leave for Copenhagen. but when
their departure was delayed. the corr
mander Of the Kronprinz Heinrich
apolog asked them II they
minded. waiting until the following
day. That, afternoon they went
| ashore.
The two Americans were given p
| change Of clothing. enjoyed the best
of food and remained with the cub
marine during her trip Of surrender
from Heligoland to Hardwich, Eng
| land, where they were able to report
D American naval officers.
TTIInnIInIIIIThn