The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-11-08
Third in q series Of four ar
ticles on German U-BOat activ-
ity against American shipping
during the World War.
BY SAMUEL TAXLON NUOKSk
Written for NEA Service


Broadways bright lights never cast
off q more fascinating glow than
they did on the night Of May 28,
1918, for the bearded crew of the
German submarine U-l51 out in
New York's harbor, of Fire Island.
Standing atop their U-boat,
these men would have liked to see
show that night. But the Hudson
was hostile, and there was fishing to
be done.
Not for the bluefisla nor weak,
that run in the waters Of Long Is
land sound, were these Germans
angling. 1t was for the Atlantic
Gable they grappled using newly
devised implement for cutting I'M
derwater wires.
Thre days they finished, quickly
submerging when ships hove III
sight. Approach Of ugly weather
and their optimistic conviction they
had cut all the cables led them to
pull UP their big scissors and leave
for the New England coast. (They
actually cut only two cables. one to
Europe and one to South AmericO
U-l51 PAVED
TIE WAY
This adventure, almost under the
nose Of the Statue Of Liberty, was
but q prelude to the raiding the
U-15l was to do during her months
visit as the first German submarine
to operate of America. Before the
U-boat left she had sunk % ships OF
$4,000 tonnage.
Providing in harbors was fav-
orite stunt with the U-15l. A week
before the New York incident she
was In Chesapeake Bay out Of Bal
timore sprinkling a portion Of the
heavy load of more than 100 float
ing mines she had slowed away be-
fore leaving Germany April ID, 1918,
Approaching these ship-infested
water, the U-15l sat on the bottom
In the daytime, moved ahead under
cover Of night.
mines ready on the top deck, !"
Kapitan Won Nostitz and Jancken-
dorf, her commander, shouted.
AS they were launching the first
mine one night just of Cape
Henry, the shadow Of an armored
cruiser bore down on them
Quickly the barbed explosive was
tossed overheard and the U-boat
dived to safety.
The cruiser had not been after
the submarine, however, as Amer.
lean sstill thought their waters
free Of enemy raiders. Back on the
surface an hour later, the U-151
finished Its mine laying near Balh.
more and headed north TO Delaware
Bay To plant the rest Of its horned
bulbs. f~...
THEN THE U-15l
WENT TO WORK
It was after the adventure Of Bal.
timore the U-151 took up the bus
mess OF sinking American vessels
Like a demon risen out Of the ses
It appeared Off the Virginia coas
the morning Of May Is to attack thu
ASTON schooner Hattie Dunn. 2
A few moments later 1t was Of
in pursuit Of the Hauppage, l446'
ton American schooner, also sunk
Kapitan Won Nostitz took aboart
the crews Of these two vessels ane
Of one other, the Edna, for week.
voyaging. -
Immediate postlude to the Incl
dent In New York harbor was tn,
sinking of six American ships o
l4,5l8 tons off Jersey on June 2
Aboard the first of there ther,
climbed q German officer.
Good day, gentlemen" he said
"flne weather today. You had bet
ter get your boats ready and TAX
to them. have to sink your ship"
Women and children were amoni
passengers on the list of these 81,
! victims, the session steamer Caro-
line, which dared not send an SOL
when attacked because of warning