THE U-BOAT TRAP
And thus it turns out. The further we get from land, the rougher grows
the sea. The boat is badly tossed about. I notice the roughness of the
sea as I lie in my cabin, and towards two o'clock in the morning I am
awakened by a "Hullo," from the speaking-tube on the wall at my head.
The watchful second officer, Eyring, announces a white light to
starboard which is approaching rapidly.
I spring out, balancing myself round the corner in the control-room,
over the ladders, up through the conning-tower hatch, on to the
platform.
Eyring shows me at no great distance ahead a white light. It appears to
be approaching. We decide not to let it come any nearer, and give the
alarm to submerge. Then for the first time I realise the wonderful sense
of security that the possibility of such a rapid submersion gives.
It is all quite a matter of course. Here we travel in the middle of this
world-war, with an unarmed freight vessel through darkest night. A
light approaches. It may be an enemy, it probably is. In a few minutes a
couple of shots may flash out, several shells shatter our conning-tower,
the water stream into the ship's body, and in a short while the North
Sea close over us.
None of this occurs however. A brief command in the control-room, a few
grips of the valves and hand wheels, and we continue our way unhurt, for
brutal power may shut us from the surface of the seas, but our enemies
in their impotence only cause us to lie a few fathoms deeper. We
continue submerged for the sake of safety until daybreak. Towards
four o'clock we rise to the surface. It is already broad daylight, but
unfortunately also there is a very troubled sea. In the distance we see
a couple of fishing-boats laboriously going about their business. We
keep them at first sharply under inspection, but quickly discover their
harmless character and continue our way over the water.
This process has long ceased to be of a pleasant character. The
movements of the boat are such that existence down below in the
closed-up compartments, aired only by the ventilator machines, is
causing headache and sickness among the men; part of the crew are losing
their appetites. Yet it is quite out of the question to remain on deck,
which is continuously swept by the seas.
It is somewhat drier on the conning-tower behind the shelter of the
"bath-tank" and on the lee side of the tower, which is sheltered from
the sea and wind.
Here a few of the watch off duty are huddled together, holding fast
to the rails, inhaling the fresh air and shaking themselves when a
particularly heavy breaker rolls up round the conning-tower covering
them in salt spray.
Thus we travel on the whole day.
A couple of steamers, whose smoke-clouds appear in the distance, we
avoid above water by altering our course, after we have made out their
route by careful sounding and observation.
This sounds more difficult than it really is. You first of all make sure
of the position of your own ship by soundings and calculations, after
you have roughly estimated the position of the unknown vessel on the
map. If the relative positions of these two are compared on the map with
the most important steamer routes, it is possible to judge with some
certainty the course the unknown ship must take.
Such a calculation was soon to prove of great importance to us, and was
in this case, as will be seen, of great significance.
Towards evening it clears up slightly, and the sea grows calmer. The sun
sets under brilliantly illuminated clouds in the west.
All the watch off duty have come on deck to get some fresh air and smoke
a hasty cigar or cigarette. Below deck smoking is strictly forbidden.
The men are all huddled together on the sheltered side of the
conning-tower, tightly packed and pressed against the wall.
It is a strange sight, rather like a swarm of bees, this cluster of men
in rough, heavy sea clothes. There is not much etiquette observed here;
I know the men have no easy job down below there, and when one of them
sticks his head through the tower hatch to draw a few puffs at his pipe,
I gladly grant him the short respite.
Moreover, all eyes are fixed unconsciously on the horizon, and this is
a good thing. The more men there are to watch, the more can be observed,
and many of our crew have the eyes of an eagle.
Suddenly in the clear twilight of the June evening two masts appear in
the distance on the port side; a funnel follows, and soon the hull of a
steamer appears on the verge of the horizon.
With the help of our excellent prismatic glasses we hold her steadily
under observation, our object being to make out her course in order to
steer clear of her.
We have soon measured her distance, and I take up the map, compare,
reckon, look at the vessel again, then pause bewildered.
From the course she is following the steamer will never reach a port.
Is it possible then?
I call up Krapohl and point out to him my calculations. We have another
good look through the glasses, compare maps; they agree.
The fellow is following no route whatever.
In the meanwhile we had approached near enough to make the steamer out
distinctly. The twilight of the June evening is so clear and bright that
we can observe her with the greatest accuracy. She is a fine steamer of
medium size, and carries a neutral flag, while her hull is painted in
the colours of her country.
In the middle of the hull is a long double name which we cannot,
however, read.
Suddenly Krapohl cries:
"Good heavens! how is it that she is flying her flag so long after
sunset? Is it mere chance, I wonder? And what does that extraordinary
coat of paint on her hull signify? She is a suspicious looking craft."
I am forced to agree with him.
The apparently aimless course of the steamer fills me with amazement.
It is not usual to take a sea-trip on the North Sea for amusement in the
middle of this world-war!
We consider what is to be done. As yet the steamer has not sighted us;
she continues her mysterious course, and by this time lies a little
astern of us.
I decide nevertheless not to submerge, as our courses must soon diverge.
Suddenly the steamer makes a rapid turn and comes straight towards
us. Now we can see that the sturdy neutral has swung out her boats;
obviously with intent to make more complete her character of a peaceful
merchantman, is ready and prepared to follow all commands.
This remarkable civility on her part is quite sufficient for us. I send
all the crew below deck and give the alarm at once.
We make ready to submerge, and in doing so move towards the steamer in
order to lie broadside on to the sea, which makes diving easier.
Then, to our great amazement, the following incident occurs. Hardly
has the "neutral" ship observed our movements and noticed that we are
submerging, than she twists round with a jerk.
As we submerge we can still watch her as she wends her characteristic
zigzag course, puffing out thick clouds of smoke behind her.
This confession of a bad conscience struck us profoundly. Never have we
laughed so heartily as over the flight of this honest merchantman with
her unknown course.
The artful dodger thought she was found out, and feared any moment we
might send a torpedo into her ribs.
And how furious she must have been! It would have been so fine to
approach quite near to the "pest" in the character of neutral ship,
and then at a safe distance to let the mask of "harmlessness" drop, and
shoot through the port-holes.
The trap was so beautifully laid. The German "pirate" had only to go
just a little nearer. Instead we described a curve under water, and only
rose to the surface again two hours later.
First I searched the horizon with the aid of the periscope. Then I
opened the hatch of the conning-tower, which was still half submerged,
in order to get a look round with the glasses. The air was clear. In
the south the moon had risen, making the dusky light of the summer
night even more transparent. But as far as the eye could see the sea was
empty, no steamer was in sight.
The "Deutschland" could continue her way unlighted, and besides our huge
delight over the disappointment of the crafty trap-layer, I had now the
certainty that we could see all vessels before they could see us.
And that was no small matter.