The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-03-27
Diary of Men of U-Boat
Which Sank Lusitania
Is Now Made Public.
DEVOID OF SENTIMENT
Surprised at Hardihood Of
Vessels in Negotiating
Perilous Atlantic Route.
BY FRANK MASON.
Gntornationtl News Service STAFF
Correspondent

from the vaults Of the dead the Of
ficial story of the destruction OF the
Busitania-written on that historic
afternoon OF May Z, 1915, by the
O. @ m u submarine commander
whose hand directed the fateful
shots here given to the world. II
Is a tcrsc, passionlcss document jOt-
ted down in brief sentences within
the tiny cabin Of a steel terror OF the
deep. by Captain n-Licutenant Schwic-
ger, who commanded the German
C-20.
This arch fiend is dead. but his
posthumous story How I sank the
Lusitania" exists in the archives of
the German navy II is written over
his signature and the very lack of
sentiment in the epochal narrative
stands in weird contrast to the shock
which the sinking OF the Lusitania,
with the loss Of ! 1875 lives. gave to
civilization.
SchwioEer. the log shows, had
been ordered to the Irish sea to har-
rass shipping off Liverpool. ON ac-
count of the vast network OF barri-
cados erected by tho British navy
across tho north channel he started
to sail all the way around ireland,
but his fuel ran short and he de-
cided to disregard his orders and
return TO his base. He had started
back 10 Wilhelmshavcu when he
suddenly met the Lusitania.
The submarine commander was
surprised to see giant passenger
liner steaming uncoucernedly east
ward past tho south coast OF ireland.
Schwieger jotted down criticism
In his official diary. lie thought 1t
was bad management on the part
OF the British admiralty TO let the
great Cunard liner pass through 81.
Georges channel instead OF North
Channel (between Ireland ana scot
land)
1T romans lneNpllcable why the
Iusitania was not sent through
North channel, wrote SchWleger'
In nus log Few hours after the Lusl-
tania had been sent 10 the bottom.
Was Taken by Surprise.
Scbwiegar ,alIs Of bis VIGIL a, tho
noriscono n,icb,v Iinor is re-
flccted in the mirTor II has four
rroat funreIs and ,s avidentIv ono of
Tho floa,irr naloccs ~ Tho Atlantic
Tho ION submeryos ,pd niungos
ahead ar birh snoed IN intercon, Tho
doomed chin Tbo suhmarine rises
,o 500 ~ ,,ro,,ha,,,d stoa,,ir,. obaad
AZ % sca miles an bour There is
a command a great 10" tornedo is
fired 'at ZOO meters range II strikes
A gaming hoIe is ,orn in tho nroud
liner on Tho starhoard sidc behind
tho bridge terrific exnlosion fol-
lows There il n second explosion
and the debris and water spurt sly-
ward Tho shin begins 10 heel over
There is trempndous oxcitoment ON
hoard II appoars the officers have
lost their hnads Thev cannot got
tha Nfehoats launched Another shot
SchwIocer is TAINTED Rut dds in
his loe. "T couldn't have fircd a
second torpedo into this throng of
humanity attempting TO save them
selves ANYWAY
Tho submarine goes unon its way.
Schwieper cooly works on his diary
considerinP thn horror Of his act "A <
a part Of The dsv's work lie figures
bis marine hoarings and notes his
success and makes his comments
These are official facts Thev are
contained in the official diary which
Schwieper utilized as his formal re-
mort of tho VOYAGE 10 the great staff
of the imnerial German navy.
There are I2 pages of typewritten
manuscript with accompanying maps
and charts 1t looks unimposing
bound in a simple wrapping of blue
manilla covers But II is history I
am not at Hoerty 10 explain now
secured possession OF these import
ant papers from the navy archlVes
lor 80 hours 10 ehaoIe them 10 De
photogrdpheu' But that Is cofhpaoa-
livery uhlnportaht'
SchWlegef terse account, IN
tended only Tor ottlclal eyes contra
dlcts ana brands as talse Germany
supsequeh. announcement that th,
raP'airi VINO Sam we LuslLanla uiu
so,,,,n,. -, Sn s,at ,;a,a, "a
no. L,o,,, ,,,,,ii a,,tr,atSI,, 80
,,ir,,,n en- r. i.'Ia - ,i,aS
~. ~ at.iai.o,, III, ~. 80 ~ f,,st
- ny ,,, 1.'.P ma9 si,., ttr
:, no., ~. ~ tm t'ae va gil ,T5 ~ 1at
to-" ", ~ h,,.. 81 .'I ,,,i.a,ta, Ell"
,ha, o h ''ie ,,.ei US 80 80,
vessel,
The favorite tactics Of nerchant
ships hunted bv submarines was Il
speed ahead on a zigzag course. The
attacking U-boat without waiting tC
learn the name Of its quarry, woulC
then set out to get in front Of thu
vessel to give a mortal blow.
This apparently explains VIII,
Schwieger did not seek to identif,