INTRODUCTION
An eventful period lay behind Commander Erich Köhler at the outbreak of the war—weeks of heavy work of responsibility, but rich in success and honor.
On 21 January, 1914, he, with H. M. S. Dresden, anchored off Vera Cruz, Mexico, and relieved the commander of H. M. S. Bremen of the East-American station. The H. M. S. Bremen then started for home.
Since the abdication of Porfirio Diaz, a war of rebellion raged in Mexico. German rights and property were in constant danger. The worst place on the east coast was the petroleum harbor of Tampico, which was threatened since December, 1913.
But the German commander had more to do than merely to protect the German interests against the Mexicans. Opposed to him were the American and English admirals and the captains of the French men-o-war who did not relish the presence of the German flag.
Erich Köhler was not the man to permit himself to be pushed aside. Outwardly a real German of the purest blood, tall and strong, blond and blue-eyed, he was recognized by all, friend or foe, who saw him at work out there, as a man of energy and determination.
We, however, who were permitted to know him at closer range, will always remember him as a friend and a true comrade. Himself still full of youth and vigor, he could understand the young and their ways. We retain many a good bit of counsel as a legacy from him.
Then came the war. The name Karlsruhe, which Erich Köhler indelibly inscribed in the world's historical book of fame, meant the rounding-out of his life to him. He was not permitted to know what honors and decorations his Fatherland and his Kaiser were preparing to shower on him.
1914
THE.LAST DAYS OF PEACE ON THE EAST-AMERICAN CRUISER STATION
13 July.—On 13 July, the Imperial Ambassador to Mexico, Rear Admiral von Hintze (ret'd), gave the order to H. M. S. Dresden, which lay in Vera Cruz at that time, to expect the arrival of the President of the Mexican Republic, Huerta, and his Minister of War, Blanquet, also the families of these men, at Puerto Mexico sometime on or after 15 July. The Dresden would then proceed with the English cruiser Bristol to Kingston (Jamaica) carrying the above-named persons. Huerta was expected to abdicate shortly before embarking.
15 July.—After a conference of captains, the Bristol left Puerto Mexico, at 6 p. m., 15 July, and proceeded to sea. Commander Köhler had delayed his departure and shortly thereafter sailed from the harbor with his ship.
As the ambassador had laid great stress on the secrecy of this undertaking, we steamed an easterly course at first in order to mask our intentions, and, in passing the flagship of the American Admiral Badger, the senior naval commander before Vera Cruz, we sent the following radio: "Captain to commander-in-chief: I hope to be back in a fortnight with Karlsruhe." The Bristol, on the contrary, stood straight for Puerto Mexico.
In spite of the greatest secrecy on the Dresden—in addition to the captain only the first officer and the adjutant were informed—the day after the two cruisers left, the task assigned them was common street talk in Vera Cruz.
16 July.—Early the following morning the two ships met at the mouth of the Toatzacoalcos and proceeded to anchor off Puerto Mexico.
Huerta had especially requested that only he and the Minister of War and one servant be embarked on the Dresden, while the families and their retinues be sent aboard the Bristol. This division had been agreed upon by the captains previous to the departure of the cruisers from Vera Cruz. The Englishman had made no objections.
The families arrived under strong military escort. We awaited Huerta and Blanquet. That same afternoon the Bristol embarked the relatives of the President, but the next day hurriedly disembarked them again.
17 July.—The English cruiser pretended not to have received sailing orders. Nor did these orders arrive on the 18th and 19th of July. Finally it was said that the Bristol had received instructions merely to protect the families in Puerto Mexico, but not to carry them on to Kingston.
During the evening of this day Huerta arrived. He made his departure conditional to the departure of his family on the Bristol. And so the departure of the Dresden, and, of course, her being relieved by the Karlsruhe, and starting homeward, were delayed by the strange conduct of the Englishmen. The Admiralty Staff had sent strict orders to hurry the Dresden's start for home.
18 July.—During the course of the afternoon of 18 July, the President, accompanied by the Minister of War, made his call on the captain aboard ship. At the same time our officers invited the wives and daughters of these two men and many others to tea on board. The band played and we danced. Huerta's daughters made such a peculiar impression that we thought they were hilarious.
20 July.—Meantime Huerta had engaged a steamer, that had already left Vera Cruz, to carry his retinue. However, he requested permission to bring aboard his wife, four daughters, one servant and the wife and daughter of the Minister of War. The captain agreed, and on 20 July the embarkation took place.
At 6 p. m. the Dresden sailed with her guests, three days later than we had intended to.
21-23 July.—The trip was uneventful. Because of the guests, all of whom suffered severely from seasickness, we cruised along in sight of the Yucatan coast. Huerta was pleased because he could keep his Fatherland in sight so long. He considered it as a personal favor from the captain.
Mrs. Huerta and her half-grown children were given the captain's cabin. Huerta himself occupied the first officer's room. Blanquet and the other feminine guests were assigned to the officers' rooms. The poop was kept clear for their use and every day the band played for their amusement, if they were not kept below decks due to seasickness.
As we now learned, Mrs. Huerta had not been made very comfortable aboard the English cruiser. At all events she was not pleased with the Englishmen. She disembarked of her own volition, preferring the narrow, hot, railroad sleeping-car ashore to her quarters on the Bristol.
24 July.—When in sight of the island of Jamaica we received a radio reporting the strained relations between Serbia and Austro-Hungary; Austro-Hungary had sent an ultimatum to Serbia on the previous day.
About 1 p. m. the Dresden headed into Kingston and went alongside the coal-docks of the Hamburg-American Line.
Huerta and his following were landed. The President warmly thanked the captain for his reception. On leaving the ship he gave the captain, as a souvenir, his gold pencil with which he had signed all his Presidential decrees; the first officer received an old Spanish gold coin which had been given him by an old soothsayer and which he had since carried as a talisman; he gave the adjutant his revolver, and to all the officers and men whom he met he gave a gold piece.
H. M. S. Karlsruhe was no longer at Kingston, having gone to Port au Prince where, because of an outbreak, her presence had become necessary.
The captain and those officers who were off watch used this short delay to go ashore to see the English city of Kingston and its environs.
Having finished coaling, the Dresden again proceeded to sea at 6 p. m.
25 July.—At sea from Kingston to Port au Prince. Under way we received a radio from the captain of the English armored cruiser Berwick in which he congratulated our captain on his new, nice-looking ship Karlsruhe which he had seen at Port au Prince. The Berwick was en route to Havana and hoped to see us soon either there or in Mexico.
While the Dresden was at Puerto Mexico, the first time, 25 and 26 June (protecting the English oil refinery at Minatitlan) she lay there with the Berwick. The English captain had made a favorable impression on Commander Köhler. The wish for another meeting was, at that time, well meant by both of them.
At 5 p. m. the Dresden anchored at Port au Prince close to the Karlsruhe. Preparations were made to exchange captains. Commander Lüdecke and one officer were to come to the Dresden while my captain and I were to go to the Karlsruhe.
Other than the presence of an American battleship there was nothing to indicate the unrest of the negro republic.
26 July.—At Port au Prince. During the forenoon the captains were exchanged. The new captain made a short speech to the crew of the Karlsruhe, which he concluded with a cheer for the Kaiser.
It was originally planned that the Dresden should remain only a short time in Mexico pending the arrival of the Karlsruhe. The crew had counted on returning shortly. The majority of the officers and petty officers were married. Therefore home was a strong attraction to this vessel. And now the joy of the pending homeward-bound cruise was particularly great inasmuch as they had been anticipating it for so long. When I reported to the first officer, who also was married, and wished him a pleasant and speedy trip home, he remarked rather prophetically: "Who knows? Perhaps you will reach home before I do."
The first impression I received of our new ship was not so pleasing. The Dresden had won our hearts by her excellent living-quarters. Cabins, mess-rooms and rooms were airy and as cool as possible. The captain's cabin on the Karlsruhe was red-hot, so that he immediately announced that he would move to the chart house on the bridge. He did this and never returned to his quarters except to receive callers, which he could not very well do on the bridge. At sea it was more endurable because, when the side ports were opened, a draft blew through the rooms. The same temperature prevailed in the rooms of the navigator and paymaster and in the offices, while in the officers' rooms, that were below and further aft, it was not much better.
At 4 p. m. the Karlsruhe proceeded to sea en route to Havana.
27 July.—At sea, making passage Port au Prince to Havana. Nothing of special importance.
28 July.—About noon the Karlsruhe and a small Italian cruiser arrived at Havana simultaneously. We began to coal at once. The captain immediately called on the representative of the American Government and on our diplomatic representatives.
The outbreak of war between Austro-Hungary and Serbia was generally known in the city.
That evening the captain and several officers were invited to dinner at our ministry. Naturally the political situation formed the chief topic of conversation.
29 July.—As the press dispatches indicated an approaching crisis in European affairs, the captain decided to advance the time of departure by one day. We had good communication with our home country while in Havana. But we knew that all the English and the French warships of the East-American Station had assembled at Vera Cruz, our destination. In addition, the prevailing conditions in Mexico were not very disturbing.
In honor of the German Flottenverein (Navy League) in Havana, we had a celebration on board that afternoon. Official dress was not worn. While the dancing and joking was going on, the coal barges lay alongside and the dance music aft mixed with the rattle of coaling winches and cranes up forward. Pleasure and work were divided by a large canvas curtain stretched across from one ridge-rope to the other.
The majority of the guests, especially the young ladies, were foreigners, American or Spanish. It is certain that never before had "politics" been the principal topic of conversation at a ball as it was on this day aboard the Karlsruhe. Everybody thought the situation at home was very serious. No one doubted that the Karlsruhe would steam out of Havana and go to war. The ladies, therefore, gathered our signatures on cards and fans so that they could later on remember us by them.
The captain of the Italian cruiser felt impelled, even after having made his personal visit, to send an officer to us to assure us that he was at our disposal in case we needed anything.
30 July.—About 10 a. m. the Karlsruhe left Havana.
The captain had received word of the tension between the Triple Allies and the Central Powers due to the declaration of war by Austria on Serbia. He therefore decided not to proceed to Vera Cruz but instead to remain at sea in the vicinity of Havana to wait further developments. The ship remained in good communication with the radio station ashore.
31 July.—During these days of suspense the ship was most energetically prepared for action, and every forenoon and afternoon we had drills at clearing ship general quarters) and gunnery.
Meantime a telegram reported the imminent danger of war.
Of our possible enemies we knew the following:
1. The flagship of the English admiral, chief of the 4th cruiser squadron, Sir Christopher Cradock, the armored cruiser Suffolk, lay at Vera Cruz. The small cruiser Bristol, the size of the Karlsruhe, had left Puerto Mexico. The armored cruiser Essex was in Canada, the Lancaster at the Bermudas. Both these cruisers were of the Suffolk type. The small cruiser Glasgow (Bristol type) lay at Rio de Janeiro.
2. The French armored cruiser Conde lay at Vera Cruz, Descartes at Tampico.
3. Our friend Berwick (similar to Suffolk) had left Havana several days before. The captain did not trust the English, and had said that the Berwick would soon return to Havana. We knew now that the armored cruiser had come about and was approaching Havana again. There was no doubt that the Englishman had come back with the idea of making contact with us. The situation was becoming more acute, and made such an impression on our captain that he decided that in case of war between Russia or France and us, England would be certain to take part. As soon as the first declaration of war on Russia was known he was sure that there would be war with England.
THE DECLARATION OF WAR
1 August.—During the afternoon of 1 August we received the mobilization orders. Practically at the same time we received a report that the Berwick had entered Havana again.
After supper the crew was assembled and the captain read the mobilization orders, explaining in simple terms the political situation. He concluded his remarks with a Hurra! to the greatest military power. The men dispersed in silence. But soon we could hear loud voices all around, and many groups stood around on deck until far into the night.
A great tension pervaded the ship. Who could make an estimate of what would happen? Many, especially the younger element, had the fever for adventure and the feeling that something great and new stood before us. The foc's'le rang with “Die Wacht am Rhein" and "Deutschland, Deutschland, über Alles," which speedily echoed throughout the ship.
For the thinkers the prospect of the impending war that would involve all Europe and set the whole world aflame was so astounding that they were just beginning to understand the meaning of the words that the captain had spoken in his clear, full-toned voice. To this one and that one came the thought of home.
2 August.—The declaration of war on Russia reached us at a German historical place. Here, in 1870, the Prussian Meteor had engaged the French Bouvet, ending with the disgraceful flight of the more powerful Frenchman toward Havana. We could use this memory as a good omen for the future.
As a conclusion to a short address, the captain late that evening informed the crew of the declaration of war on Russia and told them the latest War news.
Again this evening the men remained on deck until late at night discussing the affairs in more or less loud tones depending upon their individual temperaments. It is true that our war declaration on Russia did not alter the present conditions for us. For what could we do here to a Russian ship when there were no Russian ships in sight? But there was no doubt in any one's mind that trouble with France, and, above all, with England, must soon follow. What had the captain said? France would not lose this opportunity to join in with her giant ally, Russia, in order to finally satisfy her thirst for revenge. But how would England conduct herself? That was the main consideration for us. We had to wait and do nothing but hope that the decision would soon reach us.
3 August.—The outbreak of war with France, of which we received word on 3 August, did not arouse any special interest among our men. That was awaited as a certainty. Further that did not materially change the situation for us. But now we had an enemy in the immediate vicinity and we could certainly undertake operations against her ships and rendezvous. But the question as to England's attitude was still unanswered. As long as she oscillated back and forth we would be seriously handicapped in our operations against the French, and, under some conditions, be seriously hindered.
The captain was certain that the next few hours would bring us England's declaration of war. As he was compelled to wait, he decided to use this time to get closer to England's main lane of travel so as to be ready, as soon as war was declared, to engage in our principal role—commerce destruction. Therefore he proceeded north through the Straits of Florida.
The armored cruiser Berwick, with all lights out, had left Havana that night. This report did not lessen our mistrust of the English.
4 August.—During the forenoon of 4 August we finally received the decision: England had declared war on Germany.
This report relieved the tension. We now knew where we stood. The suspense, that grew more excruciating each hour, had finally ended. We could now come forth from our hiding-place, and all hands looked forward with great eagerness to the coming events.
It is not easy to describe the prevailing opinion. The thoughts of home constantly bobbed out from behind the desires for adventure, the curiosity of what would happen and the eagerness for great deeds. The strength of the enemies that surrounded the Fatherland was so great as to call forth much worry in many a man who had left wife and child at home. Such thoughts were not expressed. They could be read in earnest faces.
I can easily picture the scenes at home when they heard of our troops crossing the boundaries and going into the enemy countries and winning the first victory. All of us who were not permitted to have lived these days with you feel very sorry. But is it strange that such a jubilation could not take place aboard a simple ship that was alone, far from home, and dependent solely upon itself? No one was afraid concerning himself or our ship. We had excellent reasons to trust ourselves to the leadership of our young and strong captain. No matter what the end might be, we knew it would be an honorable one. But our thoughts constantly wandered back to home whether we wanted them to or not. How were things going over there? Was our race so powerful as to actually stand off the great powers that were attacking it from all sides? We knew that we would not know the answers to these questions for some time to come, and this made it all the harder. At that time none of us knew how the lies were started around the world, and that even the few reports that reached us were poisoned.
BATTLE AND DISTRESS
5 August.—About 7 a. m. a steamer came in sight. We stopped her. The prize crew was sent over to search her. It was the Italian steamer Mondibello from Messina. After the prize officer, Lieutenant William Schröder, decided that her papers were in order and that she was really an Italian ship, she was released after an hour's delay. The steamer was in ballast for Galveston. As she had no radio instruments her captain knew nothing of the events of the last 14 days. He was not a little astonished over the news that was told him by our prize officer. When he learned that Italy had remained neutral he exclaimed in the usual demonstrative Italian fashion that he could not understand this indecision of his countrymen and that he could hope for nothing better than to soon see Italy ranged on our side. So he was very happy when he received permission to proceed.
This was our first event in the war.
This day we got into radio communication with the speedy steamer Kronpriz Wilhelm of the North German Lloyd Line that had come from New York. The captain decided to fit her out as an auxiliary cruiser. He therefore sent her a radio designating a rendezvous.
On board we immediately made all the preparations for fitting out the steamer. We prepared to give her two 8.8-cm. guns, small arms and ammunition, and the men composing these gun crews packed their bags.
The work in connection with meeting the Kronprinz Wilhelm, which was expected the following day, took precedence over all other work. We wished to double our commerce-destroying forces by putting her in service as an auxiliary cruiser. This the captain told the crew, impressing upon them the necessity for energetically pushing the work.
The following day showed that he had been understood. Had the fitting-out not been prosecuted with the utmost dispatch by every man concerned, it is possible that the enemy armored cruiser might have appeared at the opportune time to prevent this doubling of our forces.
To illustrate the wisdom of the captain's ideas I will quote the following: Kronprinz Wilhelm kept the English just as busy as did the Karlsruhe herself. By sinking 13 large steamers she created havoc with the enemy shipping and, for a long time, kept the enemy warships in the Atlantic Ocean on the qui vive.
6 August.—At daylight, about 7 o'clock, we sighted a steamer dead ahead on course opposite to ours. As we could not make her out, and as the radio communication showed that an English cruiser was not far away, we went to "general quarters."
Soon thereafter the steamer turned to starboard and showed us her broadside. We immediately recognized her as the speedy liner Kronprinz Wilhelm. The Karlsruhe headed for her, stopping on her starboard side. Our captain went over in a cutter in order to give his orders to her captain.
About a quarter of an hour later he came back and then brought our ship alongside the steamer's port side, heading SSE. In this way the cruiser was amply protected from wind and wave by the steamer. Even so the vessels worked very heavily and would not have lived through it had we not used the wood and rope fenders which we had prepared for this purpose on the preceding day.
The work of shifting over the guns and ammunition began at once. Also the unnecessary boats, motor launches and gig were sent over to the Kronprinz Wilhelm. Every means was employed to hurry the work. The bands played on each ship and caused the men's spirits to rise, resulting in many remarks being exchanged from ship to ship. The lookouts, however, were doubled on each ship.
In the middle of these proceedings the lookout in the foretop reported, about 10.15, a smoke cloud to S. by W. Soon two masts, then three smoke-pipes and then the high bridge of the vessel could be distinctly seen against the clear background. It was patent to all of us that this was the well-known silhouette of a cruiser of the Suffolk type, and we guessed she was the Berwick; that is, the officers guessed that because she was the most likely one to appear; the men thought so because she was to them, the best known of all the ships of that class.
According to the English press we learned later on that she was the Suffolk. We had mistaken the admiral's flag for a top-flag and were pleased because we thought she had decorated herself preparatory to battle.
The enemy cruiser then headed about NE. She did not seem to see us until after her bridge was well above the horizon. And then, for the first time, she turned toward us.
As soon as the captain recognized the vessel as an enemy, he stopped the work on both our ships. Officers and men that were to exchange ships, quickly jumped aboard. The lines were cast off. The Karlsruhe went astern at full power, Kronprinz Wilhelm ahead, and the ships drew apart to the strains of the bands, ours playing "The Watch on the Rhine" and theirs "Deutschland, Deutschland, über Alles," and amid thundering cheers of the crews. The Kronprinz Wilhelm was towing our motor boats and the captain's gig astern, and these soon found their watery graves.
Then, for the second time that day, the Karlsruhe went to "general quarters." The Kronprinz Wilhelm proceeded on a NNE course, the Karlsruhe on a N. by W. course and soon each disappeared over the horizon.
We had just enough time to convert the Kronprinz Wilhelm into an auxiliary cruiser. At the last minute our navigator, Lieutenant Thierfelder, took command of the latest acquisition to the Imperial German Navy, accompanied by the best wishes of all of us.
The Karlsruhe received three officers of the reserve, Lieutenant of Reserves Frese, who took over Thierfelder's duties, and Ensigns of Reserves Hentchel and Eyring. In addition the steamer transferred some stores to us.
The Englishman took up the pursuit of the Karlsruhe, which was fine for the Kronprinz Wilhelm, as it gave her time to complete her fitting-out, mounting of guns, etc.
According to the afore-mentioned newspaper article the English admiral thought he had interrupted us while coaling from the liner, and so he had caught us short of fuel.
The Karlsruhe was making 21 knots. The speed of the enemy was estimated at not over 19 knots. She seemed to be losing rapidly. We could still see her smoke clouds which, like ours, rose vertically, until 4 p. m.
All hands on the Karlsruhe were in great glee. We were pleased that we had been able to finish the work of fitting-out the auxiliary cruiser. We were not very happy, however, to have to run from the enemy. But everybody thoroughly understood how useless it would have been to have engaged the enemy, heavily overpowering us in everything but speed. We all knew that our task was a far different one, namely, the destruction of enemy commerce, and we had just reached the point where we could begin our operations. This would cause much more discomfort to our pursuer.
All the officers, except those on duty at other places, gathered on the bridge. The cook brought up a basket of apples and oranges that we had received from the Kronprinz Wilhelm. We all pitched in and ate our fill of the fruits which we had been denied for so long.
When she left Kiel, the Karlsruhe shipped two Chinamen for laundry work. When war broke out they clamored incessantly; they would soon be shot to pieces; therefore they begged the captain to put them ashore as soon as possible. On this day we discovered that they were missing. They had taken the opportunity to ship aboard the great and, therefore, more trustworthy, steamer that mounted no "boom-booms" as they called our guns. The poor devils had jumped from the frying pan into the fire. I wonder what they thought when they finally saw that the steamer, instead of twelve 10.5-cm. guns, mounted two 8.8-cm guns!
Meantime the Karlsruhe decreased speed and proceeded to the northward.
At 7.40 p. m. the alarm was sounded. For the third time in one day the men manned the guns.
A totally darkened ship appeared on the port beam. The range was about 6000 meters. In the moonlight we could make out the silhouette of a long, low vessel with at least three smoke-pipes. We immediately remembered the small English cruiser Bristol, our friend of Puerto Mexico.
The enemy soon opened fire which we answered immediately. For about an hour the two ships steamed parallel courses. Each wished to get forward of the other's beam. This finally resulted in a speed of 25 knots.
At first the enemy managed to keep up the speed but after 8 o'clock she fell behind. Her fire grew weaker and finally ceased entirely. Then the Bristol was engulfed in our heavy, impenetrable smoke clouds, so that we also had to cease firing.
There was no special advantage in continuing a fight through the night, so the captain decided not to fire any longer. A night engagement, even in calm, clear weather, is always full of uncertainties, and the result may not depend on the same factors that decide a day battle. Furthermore we knew that the two armored cruisers Lancaster and Essex were to the northward of us, while to the southward were the Suffolk, our pursuer, and the Berwick. It was a dead sure thing that the Suffolk had, that forenoon, endeavored to set all the other cruisers on our trail. Therefore we tried our best to jamb his radiograms. Our position amid the enemy cruisers would soon be given away by these radios. We could therefore assume that one or more of the armored cruisers would sooner or later appear on the scene of battle. Then our fate would have been sealed after only two days of warfare and before we had actually been able to accomplish our main mission.
Therefore the captain decided to break off the fight, and at all costs to save the ship for commerce destruction.
During the short fight the Karlsruhe was not hit, even though the enemy salvos landed close both forward and abaft the ship. We were not certain whether the enemy was hit or not.
The chase and the high speed during the fight had reduced our fuel supply to such an extent that the captain decided to run to some neutral harbor and coal ship. It was not wise to select one of the North American ports because of the risk of having another pursuit by one of the northerly armored cruisers, especially if one of these managed to get between us and the coast.
During the fight we steered a northeasterly course. About 10 o'clock the captain brought the ship about and headed for Porto Rico. We hoped our change of course would not be noted by the enemy, because we did it under the concealment of our smoke clouds and the heavy smoky mist that hung close to the water. We saw no more of the enemy that night. We did not know whether she was following us or not. Speed was gradually reduced to 16 knots.
The captain and a majority of the officers remained on the bridge. The crew slept at their gun stations.
7 August.—There was every expectation of our being engaged the following morning. Before daylight all the officers gathered on the bridge when the captain took the precaution to send the crew to "general quarters." Quartermasters were sent to augment the usual lookouts. We were all at high tension, wondering in which direction the first smoke cloud would appear. It grew lighter and lighter, while the tension increased.
When it finally became light and the blood-red sun-ball shone over the quiet surface of the ocean there were still some glasses searching the clear, sharp line of the horizon. Nobody could believe it; there was nothing to be seen of the enemy. In spite of the moonlight and the calm night, she did not see us come about.
The crew was relieved from "general quarters" and the speed gradually reduced to 12 knots during the day. We had to be economical with our fuel if we hoped to reach Porto Rico. At 12 knots we consumed the least amount of coal.
But we were destined to have another scare this day. The radio officer reported to the captain that the radio signals of an English man-o-war were increasing in strength. About 7 a. m. this became so strong that we estimated that an English cruiser was close at hand and converging on our course.
The next hours were very critical ones for the Karlsruhe. We could not take many chances with our rapidly disappearing coal supply. The speed must not be increased, as the coal consumption would increase with each knot.
We estimated that the unseen enemy must be one of the Suffolk type of armored cruisers. Excepting the Bristol there were no other ships than armored cruisers in the West Indian waters. The English press reports confirmed our opinions. According to these reports this vessel could have been none other than the Berwick which was returning from her unsuccessful pursuit of the Kronprinz Wilhelm.
Had the armored cruiser come in sight and had we endeavored to escape by increasing speed, we should have faced the probability of having to burn our last ton of coal at sea. On the contrary, had we chosen to fight, the result of such an unequal battle would never have been in doubt. In either case we should have reached the end of our string before we really had begun. All in all, the second choice seemed to offer the best results. We could then at least hope to do as much damage as possible to the enemy.
About 10 o'clock the unseen foe "yelled" the loudest. Then she gradually grew quiet. She had passed us under the horizon.
We had left some anxious moments behind us. Waiting for the end without being able to do anything, without being able to properly defend ourselves, was not a feeling calculated to raise the spirits. But each one kept his thoughts to himself. We will always remember the bearing of our captain during these hours, probably the worst hours for him in the entire war. What was in the mind of this man who outwardly appeared so calm that he raised the spirits of all who came near him? He had not left the bridge since the fight, and was only persuaded to give himself up to a few hours' sleep in a cane chair that had been brought up on the bridge for him. In this way days and weeks of greatest physical and mental strain were passed through. And in spite of it all his power of recuperating and his confidence carried him through.
8 August.—This day the crew did the hardest and most strenuous work since the war began. They worked in two watches in the bunkers trimming the coal down toward the boilers. Because of the terrible heat they stripped until almost naked, and, when their hours of rest arrived, they lay like Moors on the decks under the awnings that had been spread to protect them from the sun's rays.
Our only real protection these days was the watchfulness of our lookouts.
SAN JUAN DE PORTO RICO
9 August.—At daylight the Karlsruhe came into the harbor of San Juan de Porto Rico. It was Sunday. Everything ashore was deathly quiet. Soon, however, the town woke up. In spite of the early hour a crowd gathered at the landing place and along the beach.
As we learned later, the reports of our fight had already been received. And, for the first time, we became acquainted with the English lies. All newspapers had reported a victory for the English. The Karlsruhe had been heavily damaged and then surrendered. The "captured" vessel had been towed to Kingston. The report was, of course, believed, just as everything that England and France report is accepted as Holy Gospel in America. An American reporter who came aboard with an old American general (ret'd) soon after our arrival, declared very decidedly that we were not the Karlsruhe because she had been "captured," but of course we evidently did not know that; instead we were the Strassburg and had merely changed our name! I hope he still remains in ignorance. The press also brought the report that the Goeben and Breslau had been "captured" in the Mediterranean. But we hoped that they had suffered the same "fate" that we had.
At the beginning of the war the word "captured" played a most remarkable role in the English foreign press. Several German generals, more often the Crown Prince, untold soldiers, usually whole divisions and corps, were "captured" daily. It was lucky for us that we learned the meaning of this word so early in the war. And so we knew that it simply represented pleasant wishes and that it could not be interpreted literally. By and by even this word was used less frequently.
The old general assured us of his pro-German sympathies. He had been in Germany many years ago and, for this reason, spoke very feelingly. I was inclined to believe him when, on his hearing the name "Köhler," he recalled the incidents of April of this year at Tampico, Mexico. At that time our captain had taken 900 American citizens, mostly women and children, under the protection of the German flag, saving them from the violence of the Mexican mobs, while the American cruisers steamed down stream and out into the roadsteads, leaving their fellow citizens to their fate.
The steamer Odenwald of the Hamburg-American Line lay in harbor. On sighting her we had hoped for coal. But she had none. However, the captain was prepared to immediately transfer provisions to us, and also sent over 13 war volunteers and five reservists. This addition to our crew was very opportune.
As soon as we arrived, our captain hurried ashore to hunt up our consul. It was our bad luck to have arrived on a Sunday. The German consul, like all the prosperous business people, lived in the suburbs and across the beautiful bay from the town, so he had to be summoned by telephone. He arrived as quickly as possible, and, assisted by the manager of the Hamburg-American Line, took all the means at his disposal to get all the necessities for us. Later on the captain thanked both these gentlemen in the most glowing terms.
Shortly after 9 o'clock we went alongside a coal barge that was said to hold 550 tons. Another, with 250 tons, was afterward taken on the port side. The coaling apparatus was primitive and inefficient. Therefore the rate of coaling was very slow, even though the exhausted men, despite the glowing heat, worked like fiends. It took four hours to take the first 300 tons. The contents of the barges, American property, was more coal dust than lumps. But in spite of the efforts of the Germans it was impossible to get better coal.
The entire crew of the Odenwald pitched in and assisted coaling. They did this voluntarily. In the evening, when they returned to their ship in their boat, our men thanked them with three cheers.
The only cables in San Juan are English and French. As you may imagine, as soon as we arrived, all the cables were immediately put to use. The enemy consuls had attended to that. Even the American radio station, that pretended to be strictly neutral, had a lot to gossip about on that day. With whom was the station so friendly? Certainly not with the other neutral shore stations that could learn the news over the land cables just as easily.
The coaling was finished about 7 p. m. We had taken 500 tons; that was exactly the amount necessary to reach the nearest neutral harbor.
From the German colony we received our first gifts—cigars, cigarettes and fruit.
Shortly before sunset we received the report that two enemy cruisers were approaching the island from the eastward at high speed. The captain did not believe the report. He himself climbed up in the fore-top and took me with him. Despite the best glasses and the most careful searching we could not discover the ships. And then darkness closed down.
The report did not seem to be entirely trustworthy. If there had been any English warships in the neighborhood they would most certainly have received the news of our presence rapidly enough. Even though the captain did not believe the reports, still we had to prepare for a possible meeting on going out to sea.
When the Karlsruhe left San Juan, totally darkened except side and masthead lights (and even these were doused as soon as we cleared the harbor) it was pitch dark; and then a tropical rainstorm like a cloud-burst fell, so that, after a very short time, we lost sight of the lights of San Juan. If we had passed any enemy ships it would have been impossible for them to see us or for us to have sighted them.
We steered eastwardly close to the coast.
This weather kept up until 9 o'clock. Then it cleared up and the moon came out, lighting up the night with the usual tropical clearness. About 10 o'clock we were abeam of the light on Cape San Juan, the NE. end of the island. Then the captain brought the ship on a southerly course and took her through the narrow, dangerous passage to the eastward of the island.
This dangerous passage was made easier, if not entirely possible, by the light of the moon. Had the weather that greeted us on leaving San Juan held out, the captain would probably have decided against risking this passage. Twice in one night did the heavens favor us!
CURAÇAO
10 August.—Anyone, even a layman, could tell by our draught that we still needed coal. The Englishmen thought we would head for St. Thomas to get coal. Even while we were still in San Juan they were speaking of that.
Therefore the captain decided to go to Curaçao, being reasonably sure of getting coal in Wilemstad.
Between 11 and 12 o'clock the captain enlisted the 13 volunteers from the steamer Odenwald. The officers not on watch gathered on the poop. Because of the seriousness of the times all special ceremony was omitted, a fact which touched the hearts of all.
The crew rested during this and the following day.
12 August.—At dawn on 12 August the Karlsruhe entered Wilemstad.
In San Juan we heard various rumors regarding the attitude of the Netherlands. Even though we could not believe all we heard we did not know what our reception might be. Further it was possible that we might meet an enemy ship there. Therefore the captain had all the crew at battle stations.
We saw a flag signal being hoisted at the signal station. Otherwise the town seemed dead.
But soon everything came to life; the forts began to signal, bugles were blowing and the garrisons sounded the alarm.
The soldiers swarmed out along the beach and from behind the quay walls. We could not decide whether they were drawn out merely to see us or whether they were preparing to defend themselves. Here and there they peeped with curiosity from behind the rocky blocks and the corners of the sea wall at the approaching enemy. Meantime our pilot flag flew in plain sight, and although we had approached very closely, nobody paid any attention to it. After a long wait a steamboat came out of the narrow entrance of the harbor into the outer roadstead and headed for us. Then the captain sounded the retreat from battle stations and had all the ammunition sent below.
In addition to the pilot the pinnace brought out the captain of the coast-defence vessel Jacob von Heemskerk who was also a commodore. He was a small nervous man who spoke German fluently. In spite of his friendly attitude we could not help but notice that his careworn face showed signs of much anxiety.
He came in accordance with the governor's orders and promised us coal, but also warned us of the possibility of their receiving a report, almost any minute, announcing the declaration of war between Holland and Germany. The governor did not know exactly what attitude to assume. For several days he had received no orders from his government. The cables were English and French, and for several days the press had been spreading all sorts of war rumors of English-French origin which he, of course, did not believe.
The Dutchman Was pleased with our friendly attitude and the Karlsruhe proceeded on into the inner harbor.
Wilemstad is so clean and European that we would have thought that we were back in Holland had it not been for the many negroes.
In the middle of this picture of peace, undisturbed even by the presence of the old forts, we presently came on a picture of war: In the inner harbor, on either side of the narrow entrance, lay the two coast-defence vessels Jacob von Heemskerk and Kortenaer (an old friend from Mexico), all stripped and cleared for action. The muzzles of their guns were trained on the entrance and pointing directly at us as if we were poor sinners being brought back to trial.
The Karlsruhe went alongside the wharf of Maduro and Sons, chief of this company being the Austrian consul. As soon as we had secured, the captains of the two coast-defence vessels came aboard. Captain van der Wal, commanding the Kortenaer, was well known to Commander Köhler and to me from the Mexican disturbances. He and his countrymen had received many favors from the captain of the Dresden at that time. He immediately greeted us with undisguised pleasure. They came at the governor's direction, to tell us that there was no objection to our taking coal. They allowed us 1200 tons. The captain later on told us that they had asked him to give his promise to intern the ship in case the declaration of war should arrive. Of course the captain rejected this proposal. The Hollanders had to be satisfied with that.
Commander Köhler left the ship with them to make his call on the governor. On his return he said that the governor had been complaining about the English and the French consuls who changed all the European reports and who bothered him with all sorts of requests looking toward the interning of the German cruiser.
Meantime, about 8 a. m., the coaling began. The coal was good, the coaling apparatus efficient, and by 7 p. m. we had taken 1100 tons aboard.
During the coaling a Peruvian torpedo-boat arrived. Somebody started the rumor that she was a disguised Frenchman or that she was about to be sold to the French. In addition there were said to be armored cruisers, French ones this time, outside the harbor. The originators of these yarns had no luck this time. Our men already knew from the San Juan affair just how much of this to believe.
When we arrived off Wilemstad, two steamers appeared at the same time. One of them went on in just ahead of us. It was the American steamer Philadelphia. The other, as soon as she made us out, headed for territorial waters at top speed and disappeared into the inner harbor. Later we discovered that she was the German steamer Stadt Schleswig of the H. C. Horn Co. of Schleswig. She had taken us for an English warship.
The captain of this steamer, Zimmerman, placed his ship at our disposal. She was in ballast and bound for Mexico. As in the case of the Odenwald at San Juan, so also here did the men of the Stadt Schleswig volunteer to come over and help our men coal ship.
The steamer Philadelphia came from Caracas and had several Germans, among them reserve army officers, who were trying to get home. They reported aboard the Karlsruhe, but could not be accepted as they were not fitted for sea service.
That afternoon the captain took a ride in an auto with our consul out to an ostrich farm on the island. The trip refreshed him very much and he was well pleased with it.
In honor of our presence many pamphlets were circulated. They told of great French successes (less for the English which was to us very suspicious; in San Juan it was just the reverse!) and terrible things for the Germans. The barbarians had overrun Holland. In spite of their heroic defence the Hollanders were forced to give way to the over-powerful invaders. The trail of the Germans was marked by the most terrible atrocities, etc.
If I am not mistaken the governor confiscated these pamphlets and forbade their being published again.
The German colony and the firm of Maduro and Sons sent us presents, cigars and Curaçao brandy. One must not criticize presents. But the brandy soon suffered the same fate as did the famous "gift-cigars" on our home front!
Shortly before 8 p. m. the Karlsruhe departed, accompanied by the cheers of the crew of the Stadt Schleswig, that lay on one side of the narrow entrance, and of the Germans on the steamer Philadelphia that lay on the other side. While we were sliding out all the German throats sang "Deutschland, Deutschland, über Alles," and we all joined in with great vigor.
An hour later the moon rose in the clear starry heavens and lighted our way just as it did the night we left San Juan.
OUR FIRST CATCH
13-17 August.—We were slowly steaming an easterly course along the coast of Venezuela. We had hoped to meet enemy steamers here as many English and French lines passed along this region en route to Caracas.
Unfortunately our hopes were not fulfilled. Instead we were given an agreeable surprise of a very different character—every forenoon the radio station on the English island of Trinidad sent the press reports. We were very thankful to the station for this excellent service which was given so freely, and therefore decided to send these friendly people a postal card at some future date, thanking them for their thoughtfulness. These were the first reports we received from which we could piece together some sort of a picture of the condition of affairs at home.
To our surprise these reports were not so terribly twisted. We learned that a German army column had invaded Belgium and that Liege had fallen. The anger of the Englishmen must have been great, and our joy, as you may imagine, was even greater. The Russians were said to be in eastern Prussia and the Austrians were not doing very well. The first reports we believed. The last we took to be the consolation reports of the English and did not believe them. An excellent sign of the English success (?) was the ever-recurring hope for the arrival of the "Russian steam-roller."
Maps of all sorts were brought out in the messes and rooms. Each one soon discovered a latent strategical talent in himself.
These days were used in carrying on "general-quarters" drills and exercises. The captain tried to make them as short as possible in order to have them oftener. Usually we had a drill every morning and afternoon which, including a conference, seldom lasted over one hour.
18 August.—This day was an important one for us.
During the night the radio officer, Lieut. von Althaus, reported that he was in communication with the steamer Patagonia of the Hamburg-American Line. The steamer reported that she had a cargo of coal. Since the beginning of the war, this was the second bit of good news from the radio room. We all were happy; because even the most lowly fireman knew, from the experiences of the past days, what this meant. She certainly lifted a heavy load from the captain's mind.
As the steamer hove in sight in the twilight of approaching day, there were more happy eyes directed at her than at the Kronprinz Wilhelm when she arrived. The steamer followed along in our wake. Then we stopped and Captain Koldewey came aboard for instructions. The meeting of the two captains, who had previously known each other, was very cordial. The captain knew Captain Koldewey to be a man full of resourcefulness and energy. He was the same type of German captain with whom we had so successfully co-operated in Mexico. After the conference, the Patagonia followed us to the southward. She was now our "target ship" and, during the drills, she took station so that we could aim at her when manning the guns and measure the ranges with a rangefinder.
But this day provided us with a second surprise.
About 4 p. m. the lookout reported dead ahead a smoke cloud and soon thereafter a steamer with one smoke-pipe. We approached her, increasing our speed. The Patagonia followed as best she could.
You can imagine how rapidly the news of our first chase spread through the ship. Everybody who was not kept below decks on watch, came up. As the distance grew less the excitement increased. On the Patagonia, bowling along behind us with a bone in her teeth, more and more heads appeared over the rail, and Captain Koldewey could not restrain himself from signalling: "That is surely an Englishman."
By and by we could make out a red smoke-pipe with black tops and a gray hull. Even when at a good distance away the steamer hoisted her flag. Through the telescope mounted on the "island"1 (through which three people wanted to see at the same time), the best and most powerful glass on board, we first made out the blood-red English commercial flag.
Then the joy on board knew no bounds!
At 4.40 p. m. in Lat. 9° 54’ N., Long. 50° 10' W. we stopped our first prize, hoisting the signal: "Stop, I will send a boat," followed by a blank shot.
The prize crew went over in a cutter. This consisted of the torpedo-officer, Lieut. (J. G.) Schröder, a second officer, Ensign of Reserves Hentchel, (later on Eyring relieved him), a signalman and a "prize-yeoman." The officers carried arms, the others did not. The cutters' crew placed their guns under the thwarts.
The steamer was the Bowes Castle and belonged to the firm of James Chambers and Co., of Liverpool. She was under orders to carry saltpeter and silver dust from Antofagasta, Chili, to St. Lucia (Antilles).
Most of the crew were Englishmen. They were given ample time to gather up their personal effects. Then a boat carried them and their belongings to the Patagonia.
The captain decided to sink the ship as there was no possibility of bringing her in as a prize. Above all, however, we could not spare any of our men for this purpose.
The Bowes Castle was a brand-new ship on her maiden voyage. She was in perfect condition and freshly painted for her first trip home. As it was necessary to sink her the usual German "tender-heart" feeling cropped out. We grew still and quiet. The joy aroused by the chase had passed away. And even among the men we heard murmurs: "Too bad. Such a fine ship."
The captain, a Scotchman, came aboard bringing his papers. He made a very favorable impression, was really distressed, and made us all feel sorry for him.
1"Island" is a part of the ship.
It is not a very fine feeling to have to destroy a work of art such as a large, modern steamer. We got used to it later on and did not think so much about it.
The overboard discharge valve and the condenser head of the Bowes Castle were opened and several bombs placed between the boilers and the sides of the ship. Although we really saw and heard the explosions of the bombs, the sides of the ship were not blown out. The force of the detonation was upward through the deck. The steamer sank very slowly.
The weak explosions of the bombs furnished a fine opportunity to tease the torpedo-officer for a long time thereafter. We insisted that the steamer had not sunk but was still driving about on the wide ocean; in fact, she had actually reached St. Lucia, etc. The poor T. O. had to hear the name Bowes Castle (spoken in German!) whenever the officers got together, and especially from the lips of the gunnery officer, a member of an arm of the service like, but in competition with, the torpedo service.
A heavy shower came up at sunset. Soon it became so thick that we could no longer see the sinking ship.
The captain did not wait for the end but took up his course to the southward. The Patagonia, our black shadow (she was painted black all over), followed along behind.
TO THE SOUTHWARD
19-21 August.—Proceeding along the coast of South America on southeasterly courses.
21 August.—Far out in the clear, crystal waters of the deep blue ocean, the powerful current of the Amazon throws its dirty yellow current, showing its power to the seafarer who passes along the Brazilian coast.
We were making for a quiet bay in the delta at its mouth. The ships anchored and secured alongside, and the work of coaling commenced. Bag after bag came over from the Patagonia. We worked feverishly. Everybody knew the danger of these hours when we lay there weak and helpless.
In the course of the afternoon the work was definitely and quickly interrupted. When the tide turned, the great powerful whirlpools and undercurrents set in. The ships worked against each other and then were torn apart. Those of our men that were on the Patagonia could not jump back aboard the Karlsruhe and were forced to spend the night on her, and each found a place on deck for himself. A small keg of beer brought them some consolation for the discomfort and mosquito-bites during the night.
We hoisted our anchor and shifted closer to the beach. The Karlsruhe dragged around for some time until both anchors were down and the current had subsided. The Patagonia, on the contrary, lay hard and fast with her old Admiralty anchors down.
The coaling-fest (as our men call the operation of coaling ship) was resumed the next day and continued until even the following day.
During the pauses many an anxious glance was directed toward the nearby land. Thick jungles covered the coasts as far as the eye could see. Swarms of red and white birds, probably parrots, flew over us and fell into high ferns not far from the water. What a magnificent hunting ground this must have been!
When the tide came in great fish swam against it often jumping a meter out of the water.
24 August.—The Patagonia had brought us several war volunteers. They were sworn in on 24 August. Two of them were very young, hardly 18 years of age. At first we thought they should not be enlisted. Their tearful pleadings, however, assisted them. The glances of these young boys beaming determination from their eyes, went straight to our hearts. I wonder how it is at home where thousands of such spirited volunteers gather around the flag! There was a slight quiver in the voice of the captain. Were his thoughts running in that same channel?
25 August.—The following day, about 8 a. m. the ship crossed the equator. We had discussed long beforehand as to whether we would have the regular crossing-the-line initiation with all its usual ceremonies, etc. It would be a change and a diversion for us all. Therefore the captain wanted to have it. But the petty officers requested that the christening be postponed until peace and then we could have it as we crossed the equator on our way home. We were that sure, officers included, that the war could not possibly last very long. At the beginning we estimated that it would last about three months. Even now we were ready to add another month since this first one had gone by so rapidly.
We crossed the line three times more later on.
While in Curacao, the captain of the Stadt Schleswig was told to take his steamer to an island on the Brazilian coast and there await our arrival.
On approaching the island that afternoon all of us were anxious to see if the captain had really succeeded in carrying out his orders. Our joy was great when we saw the outlines of the small vessel close under the land.
As a matter of fact, the Stadt Schleswig had arrived there the day before. She brought coal with her. In spite of the energetic protests of the English and French consuls the captain managed to get permission to leave Wilemstad. Then he sailed along, close in to territorial waters, until he arrived here.
We took the steamer alongside and replenished our coal supply by the amount we had burned since the last coaling. The Patagonia took the rest.
Stadt Schleswig was too slow and too small to accompany us. But we had another mission prepared for her.
The crew of the Bowes Castle was transferred to her and Captain Zimmerman received orders to take the Englishmen to Maranhao. They had behaved well so far so that there was no fear of trusting them on the small steamer with its weak crew. If I am not mistaken several of them requested permission to take part in the work of transferring coal to the Patagonia. They were happy over the prospect of soon being given their liberty and had no reasons for causing trouble to the captain.
The island was covered with forests and had a broad sand beach all along. What a wonderful bathing beach that would have been! And what a wonderful hunting ground! On the beach stalked rare herons and vivid-red fluffy birds digging their food out of the clams and sea plants that were washed up by the waves. But all of these pleasures, so close at hand, were limited entirely to our thinking of them.
26-27 August.—The captain had decided on the NE. corner of South America to begin operations. This location promised excellent results in commerce destruction.
Two active, commercial lanes cross here, namely that from Europe via the Canary and Cape Verde islands to South America and the second from North America and the West Indies to South America. This point in the South Atlantic Ocean was our next goal.
28-30 August.—We wished to arrive there with full bunkers so that we could commence operations at our maximum efficiency. Therefore the coal supply had to be replenished once more. For this purpose we this time hunted for a small secret place. We arrived there on 30 August and, having finished our coaling, started ahead on our course once more.
GERMAN LIFE BELOW THE EQUATOR
31 August.—We could hardly believe the reports which our radio officer made the following morning. He thought that he had heard words in our mother tongue. And he was quite right. Several stations were sending each other reports in excellent German. Unfortunately they were very weak and we could only pick up parts of the messages. There was, however, absolutely no doubt as to their originating on German ships and that pleased us very much indeed. All was excitement as we searched the horizon.
And then the lookout reported two steamers ahead. One was on the starboard side and the other on the port side. We hoisted our signal number and then headed for the steamer on the port side. She trusted in us as soon as she saw our flying signal and headed for us. And soon we had another friend. It was the steamer Asuncion of the Hamburg-South American Steamship Company. She reported that the other steamer was the Krefeld of the North German Lloyd Line, and, in addition to that, the Rio Negro was also in the vicinity.
Three German steamers at one stroke! What more could be desired? If this continued we would soon gather the entire German shipping about us. We could use them all, the more the better. Therefore the captain decided to keep them with us as "accompanying" ships.
Soon the Krefeld joined our column and radio communication with the Rio Negro was begun.
Wind and sea were too strong this day to permit the steamer captains to come aboard to a conference. The captain wanted to get in the lee of the small island, Rocas, and so we set our course in that direction.
A column of four German ships was steaming to the southward, each one with a happy crew.
Nobody was surprised when, about 4 p. m., the lookout reported another vessel. Before long we could make her out from the bridge. We thought she was the Rio Negro. But she showed no inclination to head toward us even though she must have recognized us. When we asked her for her position we received an answer entirely different from the position the steamer ahead of us could possibly have had. Therefore she must be a stranger.
We felt agrieved that a stranger should dare to enter into our German idyll.
The two steamers that had recently joined were sent ahead to the island, Rocas. The Rio Negro was also ordered to proceed there. Then the Karlsruhe started out at high speed after the intruder in order to chase her from the neighborhood. The Patagonia plodded along after us as best she could.
After a very long time the steamer finally hoisted her flag. Because of this delay she proved that she had a guilty conscience. She was English. On her stern, in large capitals, was the name Strathroy, Glasgow. At our order she stopped and lay to. Because of the high seas, our prize crew could no be sent over.
As a matter of curiosity we signalled the usual questions in regard to the composition of her cargo, where she came from and where she was going. The steamer appeared to be clean and in good order. Finally we received the answer: "Six thousand tons of coal from Norfolk to Brazil."
On the bridge we heard these comments: Ah! 6000 tons of coal! That is more than all four of our steamers together hold. How thankful we are to the precious Britishers for providing so promptly and generously for us. Such a good catch on the very first day. That was better than the captain had hoped for when he chose this locality for his operations.
The obliging Englishmen had gone even further. As we soon saw, the crew consisted of Chinese. Why should not the Chinese be equally willing to serve us, especially if they are well paid for it? We were not disappointed in this. The next day they declared their willingness to serve on board the ship. All we needed was a captain and a few men, and the Strathroy would make a beautiful collier.
Then we signalled her to haul down her flag, douse all her lights, and follow the Karlsruhe. She obeyed these orders. We took her between us and the Patagonia and set out one more for Rocas.
Her captain had surrendered to his fate and took special pains to save as much of the whisky supply as possible from the ruins. His men thought they would assist him. They all got drunk. When the prize officer came aboard the following morning there were still plain signs of the orgies of the previous night.
1 September.—About 8 a. m. we reached our rendezvous off the island Rocas, where our three countrymen, Rio Negro, Krefeld and Asuncion, were swinging lazily at anchor near the surf.
While the prize officer was doing his work on the Strathroy, there was much boating going on between the six ships. Anyone who remembered that there were two English men-o-war in the neighborhood; their radio signals being plain and strong, and then looked around at the swarming boats, would have a big laugh.
Some of the boats carried provisions to us from the Asuncion. Others transferred the Englishmen from the Strathroy to the Asuncion. The captains of all the steamers attended a conference on the Karlsruhe. Finally a boat carried mail over to the Patagonia which wasto sail for Pernambuco.
After the English crew had left the Strathroy, Lieutenant of Reserves Lubinus, formerly first 'officer of the Krefeld and now ordered to command this new auxiliary cruiser, went aboard. In addition to him there were also detailed Lieutenant of Reserves Gundlach of the Asuncion, one machinist of the Krefeld (war volunteer), three firemen and four seamen froth the Asuncion, three seamen from the Rio Negro and four seamen from the Krefeld.
In order to prevent the possible loss of all our recently acquired coal, the captain decided to distribute her cargo among the other ships as soon as possible. To do this he had arranged a plan which he was discussing with the captains:
Late that afternoon all the many labors had been completed. The Patagonia and the Strathroy hoisted their anchors and, in 'company, left the "fleet." Captain Koldewey, the more experienced of the two, was given command. But Captain Lubinus had the pleasure of hoisting the man-o-war's flag, which made him very proud. As the two ships disappeared in the twilight, the Karisruhe and Krefeld also got under way and stood to the northward to a certain point where the captain had decided to lie in wait for enemy steamers.
2 September.—The Strathroy had several American newspapers aboard. They had a few reports of the earlier days of the war. In spite of that they were read with great: pains. Anyone who knows the American newspapers understands that even in times of peace it is impossible to find their equal in the entire world in regard to the sensational. The exaggerations contained in these war papers were so boundless that one ran from one astonishment into another. In large red capitals were the headlines reporting that 36 warships of the Kaiser had been destroyed in the North Sea—and other similar, senseless fables.
The German steamers also brought along a few war reports, but these were very few, among them an indistinct report of a battle in the North Sea (the battle of Heligoland on 24 August ?). But although these reports of the news of the war at home were interesting, it was most important to learn of our own operations. Unfortunately we heard no more of the Dresden, which must be somewhere in the South Atlantic Ocean, but of which we knew nothing to date.
A DAY OF REAL PLEASURE
3 September.—Early in the morning of 3 September we, who slept in our rooms in the after-end of the ship, were awakened by the churning of the screws. The engines were turning over at high speed. Something was happening! When I reached the bridge I could see the lights of a steamer ahead, the Karlsruhe heading for her. By daylight we had caught up. She stopped at once.
Business was flourishing. It was another Englishman. She was the Maple Branch of Sunderland.
Soon the prize crew was over there and reported: "Two thousand tons of merchandise and live stock for Valparaiso." There was great pleasure over, the live stock because we. could use this above all things. But what to do with the merchandise was, as we were still novices in the business of holding up steamers, not quite clear. It seems so simple, yet it is not quite so easy as it looks.
A steamer full of merchandise is a regular giant floating warehouse. Everything that is made ashore in every variety of industry is carried across the ocean on her, from a needle or a pen point to a sewing machine and the latest creations from Paris. Included therein are also preserved food supplies: Holland cheeses, English marmalades, Norwegian oil-sardines and German hams. The cargo is always very valuable.
Each firm sends special shipping papers with its goods and that makes a huge pile of documents which the captain hands over to the prize officer. Our captain laid great stress on the careful work of our prize proceedings. A prize such as this, therefore, did not bring much real pleasure to the prize officer. She makes more work than four ordinary steamers would and takes several days to settle the case.
But "what is bad for one is good for another" is an old motto. Our first officer and his henchmen, the boatswain and the boatswain's mate, were especially pleased and, in this case, the adjutant was also overjoyed, because the steamer was loaded with typewriters. The prize officer also took one of these and, from now on, the prize yeoman wrote on his own machine!
Most of the innumerable wishes that the boatswain and the boatswain's mate made were readily fulfilled. And this was some accomplishment because their lists were very comprehensive: Brooms, swabs, buckets, rope for fenders (these were used each time we coaled as the ships worked heavily against each other), hammers, chisels, boring-bits of all sizes, etc., and above all things, soap, which we were sadly lacking and without which the German seaman cannot be happy.
Even the quartermaster drew his share of charts and sounding leads.
The captain permitted us to take aboard several gramaphones for our amusement and entertainment. These furnished much diversion to both officers and men. After that we had daily concerts in our mess by Caruso, Frieda Hempel and other stars.
Everything that we brought aboard was kept under control. Each thing was inventoried and entered in a ledger.
This day the steward and cook had a real orgy. The cows, oxen, sheep, pigs, rabbits and birds were examples of the finest breed. They were consigned to some exhibition in Argentina. A special attendant was on board. He had been promised a reward if he delivered the animals safe and sound and up to weight at their destination.
Most of the animals were slaughtered. The butcher and the cook worked practically the whole day at this. The deck of the steamer looked like a slaughter-house. The meat was divided between the Karlsruhe and the Krefeld.
One sheep was so fat that it was brought aboard as a curiosity. The men named it "August." The crews nickname all the sheep "August" and the pigs are never called anything but "Julius." Our "August" no doubt suffered from fatty degeneration of the heart as he was very asthmatic. He could remain standing on his thin legs for only a very short time and that only at great effort, as his legs were too weak to support the weight of the rest of his body. A few weeks later the butcher's knife released him from the painful agony of existence.
The three live pigs which were brought aboard were housed in a pen on the port side of the upper deck. They were of the best stock—a fact of which they seemed to be well aware.
The zenith of this day was reached when, during the afternoon, several boat loads of dressed birds came aboard. There were several hundred chickens, ducks and turkeys. The captain repeated the words of Henry IV: "I decree that every citizen shall have a chicken in the pot every Sunday." It turned out as he said. The second day following was Sunday. If the chicken was too large for one man (most of them were fattened) it had to be divided between two. But each man had to pick his own chicken. It was a sight for the gods to see our men squatting all over the decks, each with a chicken between his knees, picking busily away. A cloud of feathers blew over the ship. Of course many took Photographs.
The crew of the Maple Branch consisted of 42 men, mostly Chinese. They were transferred to the Krefeld. Out of consideration for the English captain and crew, our captain sent the Krefeld 10 miles away. He wished to spare the Englishmen the sight of their sinking ship.
After all this work was completed, the prize crew opened the overboard discharge valve and took off the condenser head. The explosive was this time planted down in the shaft alley between the two after cargo holds. It was more effective than in the case of the Bowes Castle.
(TO BE CONTINUED)