THE RECEPTION OF THE "DEUTSCHLAND" BY THE GERMAN PEOPLE
From the outskirts of Heligoland as far as the outer Weser we had been
received by the Navy. On the voyage up the Weser and at Bremen the whole
nation received us.
On the afternoon of the 23rd August the "Deutschland" had struck
anchor at the mouth of the Weser. The news had been spread by telegraph
throughout the whole country--this longed-for news, which awakened
unbounded rejoicings.
We learnt to our surprise and proud delight that the arrival of the
"Deutschland" was to inaugurate a festive holiday for the whole German
people, that such a reception awaited our little boat on the banks of
the Weser as surely never fell to the lot of any "lucky ship" before.
Our journey up the Weser assumed the nature of a triumphal procession.
Behind the hundreds of thousands who had come to meet us and stood
cheering on the banks, stood invisible the millions of German people
inspired with the same feeling.
This was expressed to us everywhere in overwhelming rejoicings from old
and young, high and low, from the German Kaiser down to the merest dock
worker and the small ragged urchin who, full of enthusiasm, waved his
flag and shouted in the streets of Bremen.
On the 25th August, early in the morning, the "Deutschland" commenced
her triumphal trip up the Weser. It poured in torrents, but nothing
could quench the public rejoicings as we moved along accompanied by the
blockaded steamers, our masts and conning-tower decorated with garlands
of roses.
Low hung the dark clouds in the heavens, and the rain pelted down on the
thousands who stood on the dykes or who had come to meet us on steamers,
barges, launches, and rowing boats. Deafening cheers arose from the
town, and the clashing of bells mingled with the joyful acclamations,
while above it all rose the song of "Deutschland, Deutschland über
alles," which on that very day was celebrating its seventy-fifth
birthday.
In Nordenham, Brake, Blumenthal, flags salute, guns thunder out, factory
and steamer whistles send their piercing greetings; shouts of welcome
and good wishes ring out from the North German Lloyd steamers, to which
we respond by waving back.
Vegesack is passed, where work on the Vulcan Docks has ceased, the
dockers standing in hundreds on the quay. Their wild cheers accompany
the "Deutschland" on her triumphal way. The inhabitants of Vegesack are
all assembled at the landing-place and on the banks behind.
Again music and singing, the roar of guns and storms of rejoicing!
Thicker and thicker grow the crowds as the ship nears her home haven.
Shortly before twelve we reached Lankenau, whose dyke had been chosen as
an observation point by the whole of Bremen, it appeared. Elbow to elbow
the people stood waving with hats, umbrellas, handkerchiefs, hands....
At noon punctually the "Deutschland" sailed into the open harbour, and
placed her invited guests, 'mid sounds of "Deutschland über alles," on
the highly decorated pontoon, on which the Grand Duke of Oldenburg, the
representatives of the Bremen Senate and burghership, the civilian and
military authorities, the marine, the shipping officials, etc., and
among them Count Zeppelin, were all assembled to receive us.
As soon as the ship was moored I called the men up to take their
positions on deck. Dr. Lohmann then addressed us in the following
speech:
"Your Royal Highness, Your Magnificencies, Your Excellencies, My very
honoured friends,--At this historical moment of the happy return of the
first submarine merchant-trader of the world, after a voyage of 8,500
knots, I here welcome our 'Deutschland' and her gallant crew, not only
in the name of our shipping officials, but of the whole German people,
back to the harbour of their homeland. Quietly and only known to an
initiated few, they left the Weser, passed through and under the English
Fleet, to arrive on the 10th July at Baltimore with a valuable cargo of
dyes. Their arrival was a surprise to the whole world. Even navigation
experts shortly before this event had declared it to be an impossible
undertaking.
"It is with particular pleasure that I am able to state that all true
Americans who are not demoralised by a degrading Mammon service to
England--men with the freedom-loving instincts of a Washington and
a Franklin, greeted the arrival of the 'Deutschland' in America with
warmest satisfaction. It is the pride of our shipping officials that
we have been able to send dyes to America under the German flag in the
middle of this war, while America herself cannot even get her post from
Europe unmolested, to say nothing of the many other violations of
the rights of humanity by sea and land on the part of our enemy, in
connection with the neutrals, and particularly the small states.
"To accomplish this has been the work of the crew of the 'Deutschland.'
Though they started off without any previous announcement, their
departure from Baltimore was made publicly known beforehand. 'It
resembled a triumphal procession,' wrote Havas, 'and a symbol of
freedom.' I myself should like to compare the deed with our German view
of the 'Rights of the Peoples on the free Ocean.' The enemy were not
able to prevent their departure from Chesapeake Bay, and a blockaded
North Sea did not exist for them on their return voyage, as will be
proved by the many million marks' worth of goods which have to-day been
brought from America, and which lie at this moment before our eyes.
"They have performed a task of seamanship that is worthy of our
Hanseatic forefathers. Everywhere throughout German lands, and among our
faithful allies, but particularly among our brothers in the trenches
and in the fleet, their return voyage has been followed with deepest
sympathy. With strongest confidence in their judgment, energy, and sense
of duty, we members of the shipping world have looked forward to their
return. After their long and strenuous weeks in the narrow confines of
a ship, face to face with unscrupulous enemies, I welcome them heartily
back to the Homeland. In the midst of this murderous war I convey to
them the thanks of our German people for their peaceful deed. And I
should like to express these thanks by calling for three cheers for
the 'Deutschland,' her commander, Captain König, her officers and crew.
Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!"
I answered with a brief toast to the Senate and burghership of the free
Hansa city Bremen. We then boarded the pontoon, where each one of us was
saluted and drawn into conversation by the Grand Duke of Oldenburg and
the other gentlemen present.
After completing a distance of 8,450 knots, from which only about 190
under water must be deducted, the first submarine merchant-trader had
reached home. The "Deutschland's" first voyage to America was completed.
* * * * *
On the evening of this memorable day a big dinner was given at the Town
Hall by the Municipality of the borough of Bremen, to celebrate the
homecoming of the "Deutschland." The speeches that were delivered on
this occasion give a short outline of the circumstances which led to
the building of the "Deutschland," and for this reason they shall be
repeated here.
Dr. Barkhausen, the Mayor, had received his guests with words of hearty
welcome, and informed them of the Municipality's decision to have a
special medal struck in memory of the day, and had then toasted the
German shipping officials, and the crew of the submarine merchant-trader
"Deutschland."
In the name of the Shipping Federation, their chief representative, Dr.
A. Lohmann, replied in the following words:
"Your Magnificencies, Your Excellencies, my most honoured gentlemen,--In
the name of the commander of the 'Deutschland,' Captain König, and of
his officers and crew, I wish to express to the Municipality their most
heartfelt thanks, as also that of the Shipping Federation, for the great
honour granted by the Municipality to the crew of the 'Deutschland'
in allowing a medal to be struck in commemoration of this peaceful
commercial deed in the midst of war.
"I wish to thank your Excellencies for the words in which you have
graciously acknowledged the work of my colleagues and myself. Since the
outbreak of war I have gladly and willingly devoted my efforts towards
the welfare of the State. The conviction that our splendid people, in
spite of the superior force of the enemy, are not to be crushed in this
defensive war for their individuality and freedom, that the intellectual
power and forethought which inspire our entire people, their thorough
training since the wars of liberation, and the inborn sense of duty
which has come down to every German in flesh and blood, are not to be
overcome, this conviction has accompanied me throughout all my efforts,
and everywhere I have met faithful colleagues who were of the same
opinion.
"I should like therefore at this point to express my heartfelt thanks to
all my fellow-workers, and in particular to Herr Direktor Stapelfeldts,
and my colleagues on the Board, Herr General-Direktor Heineken, and Herr
Hermann, Councillor of Commerce. The German Ocean Shipping Federation
was formed, as your Excellencies have already stated, in all secrecy,
and their task consisted in forwarding goods of the utmost possible
value.
"It meant, moreover, purchasing the raw materials on the other side,
their careful warehousing, the placing of the 'Deutschland' in a safe
position, and protecting her from all attacks. This was carried out to
perfection by the North German Lloyd agents, Herr Paul Hilken and
his father, Herr Hilken, Senior, as well as by Captain Hinsch and his
co-operators. The share which Captain König and his officers and crew
took in the enterprise has already been brought into prominence by your
Excellencies. For my part and on behalf of the shipping directors,
I should like here once more to tender our fellow-workers on the
'Deutschland' our very hearty thanks.
"It will interest the gentlemen present to hear something of the history
of the German Ocean Shipping Federation and of the 'Deutschland,' the
'Bremen,' and her as yet unnamed sister ships.
"When in September, 1915, it became evident that, in spite of all the
successes of the Central Powers, the war would continue for many months
yet, it was obvious that Germany's demand for rubber and metals was of
burning necessity.
"I therefore took the shipbuilding authorities in Bremen into my
confidence, after I had held counsel with one of the most prominent
shipbuilding experts. The 'Weser' declared itself ready to draw up and
carry out the plans for a submarine boat of about 500 tons carrying
power. On the 3rd October I came into possession of the completed plans
of this boat. The period of construction unfortunately ran into eleven
months, the delivery being therefore completed about September 1st,
1916, for the docks were first obliged to have the motors built. It was
obvious that we must make an effort another time if possible to reach
our object more quickly. Almost at the same time that the practical
evolution of a submarine merchantman was under our consideration, the
Germania Dock at Kiel had, unknown to us, handed over at the beginning
of October to their chief house, Friedrich Krupp and Sons, plans for the
construction of a U-Boat of about 700 tons carrying capacity.
"The Germania Docks were prepared, in the short space of six months, to
deliver the first boat, the 'Deutschland,' as early as April.
"Both plans, those of the Germania Docks as well as my own, showed that
the project was possible to carry out, and I should like to compare this
community of ideas with a happy marriage, where husband and wife are in
perfect harmony with each other--the dockyard, as the mother who brings
the child into the world and gives it to the father--the shipowners and
commerce--to place it in the world. The soul and mind of the child were
incorporated in our Captain, our officers and crew, who have performed
the glorious task of taking the 'Deutschland' to America and back.
"On the 15th October we had come to an agreement, and the construction
of two boats was taken over by the Germania Docks from the Syndicate.
The formal part of the establishment of the German Ocean Shipping
Federation was delayed somewhat. Its establishment took place on the 8th
November, and the boats which had in the meantime been ordered by our
Syndicate were already under construction as far as their framework. The
'Deutschland' was delivered over to us at the beginning of April.
"It was a wonderful masterpiece of the Germania Docks, and, as is usual
with all the work of Messrs. Friedrich Krupp and Sons, it was perfectly
carried out. Before we sent our 'Deutschland' to America, we made trial
trips with her for over two months. The execution of the work proved to
have been carried out perfectly in every respect. Captain König was able
to announce from America that after a voyage of over 4,000 knots ship
and machinery were in perfect working order; his report on arriving
here in Bremen harbour was just the same. It is a masterpiece of German
technique, and the name of Messrs. Krupp and Sons appears in shining
colours once again.
"From the creation of our artillery, from the 42's down to the smallest
specimen of ship guns that began successfully to break the chain of the
British Fleet in the Skagerrack and prepare the way for free trade
among the nations, to the production of arms and war material of every
description--the German people now owe their thanks for this perfect
piece of construction to the ingenious leaders and directors of the
greatest works in the world. Without Krupp, our enemies would not now,
after two years of war, be standing everywhere on the other side of
their boundary lines.
"The intelligent co-operation of mind and body, the employment of all
the newest scientific discoveries, added to the true German sense of
duty, these are the qualities that have made Krupp and Sons famous.
To-day, on the return of the 'Deutschland,' we are face to face with
another wonderful production of shipbuilding technique on the part of
the firm of Krupp, and for this also the German people owe their thanks
to them. I should like to ask you all, gentlemen, to give expression to
these thanks by joining with me in three hearty cheers.
"The firm of Friedrich Krupp and Sons, Germania Docks. Hurrah! Hurrah!
Hurrah!"
After the next course, Herr Zetzmann, the Director of the Germania Docks
at Kiel, proceeded as follows:
"Your Magnificencies, Your Excellencies, Most honoured gentlemen,--To
my lot has fallen the honour of expressing in the name of the firm of
Friedrich Krupp and Sons and of the Germania Docks, our heartiest thanks
for the invitation that has been extended us to-day by the Municipality,
and I also take the liberty of extending my thanks to the distinguished
guests of the Corporation assembled here.
"... Herr Lohmann has made some interesting communications in his speech
with regard to the history of the origin of the German Ocean Shipping
Federation, and I should like to add a few words about the workshop from
which the 'Deutschland' and 'Bremen' sprang. We had been forced to admit
for some time past, that owing to the continued duration of the war the
need of certain building materials was becoming increasingly urgent.
"From the conversational remarks 'it might be possible,' and 'we really
ought to,' arose the decision to consider seriously the possibility of a
new kind of trading vessel.
"The decision was no easy one, not merely because we feared the
difficulty of construction, but because we hardly dared to place a fresh
load on our building yards, which were already heavily overburdened
with war orders. But necessity teaches how to beg,--and also how to
construct! We next tried to work on the foundations of our war boats, in
the hope that by this means we should lessen the constructional work.
We found, however, that on these lines reliable tonnage capacity and
carefully measured space were not to be attained.
"Our leading constructors advised me, therefore, to go radically to
work, and not to try and make a trader out of a warship, but to create
a new type of trading boat altogether. The shape of this was to be made
full and rounded, and exact calculations gave us a better tonnage,
much to our surprise and pleasure, than we had anticipated at the
commencement of our project. With wild enthusiasm our constructors
completed their plans, and soon we stood face to face with a picture
whose transformation into reality would express our every wish.
"... Herr Krupp von Bohlen and the Directors seized on our proposal with
the greatest energy ... and declared that a boat of this type must most
certainly be produced, and in the shortest possible space of time, that
moreover the Germania Docks would begin directly on the construction of
the boat on their own responsibility.
"... Everything went like clockwork.... There remains only one thing
more for me to say. That we succeeded in completing the first boat in
so short a space of time is due in a great measure to our principal firm
and to our contractors, who delivered all our building materials and
necessary fittings in spite of the other great demands that were made
upon them, with astonishing rapidity.
"I wish particularly to express my appreciation that all the dealings
with the German Ocean Shipping Federation, and later with the staff of
the boat, were completed in the most friendly of spirits. Both Shipping
Federation and command staff have met all our proposals with the
greatest confidence.
"It is owing to this intelligent and broad-minded preference that the
rapidity of the construction was made possible, and that the trial
voyages went so smoothly. With the greatest confidence, therefore, we
saw the ship undertake her first voyage.
"Our confidence has brilliantly justified itself. Our most ardent wishes
with which we followed this product of our dockyard have been fully
realised.
"We wish the Shipping Federation further brilliant successes of this
kind, the 'Deutschland' and her sister ships many equally happy voyages,
for the welfare of our beloved Fatherland, and for the glory of our
revered Hansa city, Bremen.
"To-day's celebration will be for all who have taken part in it a
remembrance that they will carry to the end of their lives, and the
celebration has been brought to a close in the most approved fashion by
the dinner given in the new Town Hall by the Municipality. When this new
part of the Town Hall has grown as time-worn as the old, perhaps tales
will be told of how the successful ocean voyage of the first submarine
merchant-trader in the world was celebrated here.
"Together with our thanks for the splendid feast, I should like to join
my good wishes for Bremen, and I ask the honourable gentlemen present
to join in the toast: 'Long life and prosperity to the Municipal
Corporation of the free Hansa City of Bremen and to the town of Bremen.
Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!'"
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Transcriber's note:
All words printed in small capitals have been converted to uppercase
characters.
The oe-ligatures have been replaced by "oe".
The translator used the term "knots" (nautical miles per hour) for
ship's speed as well as for distances.
The following modifications have been made,
Page 19:
"Wieser" changed to "Weser"
(through the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal to the Weser)
Page 44:
"Cëcilie" changed to "Cäcilie"
(in the dining-room of the "Kronprinzessin Cäcilie.")
Page 52:
"fantastic," changed to "fantastic"
(look like the back of a fantastic monster whale)
Page 63:
"sign" changed to "signs"
(are also accompanying signs of the presence)
Page 69:
"look out" changed to "look-out"
(it meant a devilish sharp look-out)
Page 71:
"headlights" changed to "head-lights"
(the red and white head-lights of a pilot steamer)
Page 115:
"Blumeuthal" changed to "Blumenthal"
(Nordenham, Brake, Blumenthal)