| Show S e Story of the Capt in I i S 0 0 I How lie ami his 1 met me were l fm taunted d f for or their r deed decd upon pall their l return h. h S k h L to the till naval base basl of H mId and how hoc ho the commander himself f rut nn- 0 an t It I burdened his Iris soul sari to to a 0 little group groll of f fellow a officers ff leers who tuba of Ill all those in ini ut uta e. e u S an 1 a i a room roots tl when Jl time tile commander c entered had bad c. c 1 left c f l l. l f 1 Note 7 This This story of the ca captain captain- tain- tain of the flit submarine which thick sank saik the Lust Lust- nania lania was tas received a few fW days s a ago Q by b J. J J. J Bos- Bos daa Jau of Cambridge Mass f president of the t J 11 lle Universal a l society for the lire advancement of liberal ideas idlas among the lire re peoples ls eo Ies of oi othe the lilt star far farj cast j jand and the scar near east cast as a. a communication from front fronto o a high ranking socialist in 11 the service of I the imperial im German II nazis navy a It II was cas as addressed from r We c do Itol do-Itol not nol vouch for the storm stor but we tL should add that it 1 mutes comes from front a source thai iha has litis furnished other oilier inside news l ab about German oper- oper ocr that al ha has Iras subsequently been bell coif confirmed Thanks to an unexpected general order I im Ull able to address you this letter 1 J have been hero hero for two tWI Jays days but hut at it t f first I not find a n wa way to communicate with the members wenters mem- mem bers ers of our circle It i is is' ju just t like returning from ruin l years ears of exile things look luuk so different After ome some time 1 I succeeded in finding several se of r the comrade all nil women Male al members member are some ome at nt the front hont either cither living li 01 or lle dead land md others in pr prison n I Iam am more proud of thc these e c cho ery ry ho have ha gone to prison than to the I front I know you will rejoice with tue me you learn that even Germans have h courage courage conrage r enough to too c go to tu mth rather lather r than serve bene on our western frontier Hut But J I n rather thel doubt douht that you ou will believe c me mc n III am ant sure you yon will smile and say a Well l there might be he a few but hut the Germans are arc better hetter patri atri ats ts' ts than internationals This i is wrong Cr very cry I But I cannot blame you for insulting insulting- liSt us liS t these thrusts I You Yon should hould remember however r. that no matter yon ou may mai hear of our conduct the heart of or the Alerman erman social democracy i is still till true to the t onal we h have only lost our out heads but we are arc re- re our oar souses senses en Even toda today or tomorrow or III next Year Car is is' not too tuo late tate We e still have ha great eat faith faithAn t An tin f h our international and we will yet et assert ourselves fief ore tho time end nd comes coines t TANG HEADS WITH VITi SHAME However I did ditl not mean to write you yon this letter let let- ter a as a defense e of or the conduct of our social I J am 1111 aware that b before fore the rest t of the world r u il as ns traitor to fo the international U also aso o acknowledge c that that fur for r- r lI the p present at t-I t least i u irp A must hang our heads head in in shame and stand before the entire with blushing hing cheeks checks But yon 1 0 l across croot the She sea should not judge e us so o harshly in his wholesale fa fashion faction hion You luu ou people peaple in America a aon on only I l u and aud know yf th t h. y r G German heads and I i tl talking German ma 1 ton tongues amongst t us yon you can ln can n. n Siever Understand tm l the lie heart of the German people the unpardonable horrors which are ie- ie 1 y front from the he four ornet omel of the known wor world tl against t our ow once fatherland there beat beai millions mil lions ioni of or German hearts fo socialists and socialists non ts JOe e yearnings and terrible sufferings suffering J have Y nut nol ot yet vet found lound speech to tu express their tortured ors n t l 1 1111 ou a ill dl smile with derision and 1111 say ay as lis you have written to the comrades i Tire The Gern am have m inre l had ad the lc savage C courage lourte that bled t r them m to rap a n weak neighboring people but n 1 rewards when the time question had become a tt matter of or individual punishment l or a life sentence n nf t f You Yun a no ns its of If kmin killing O our weak neighbors for fur forr fear r ol of hems killed or ur imprisoned one b by our brass r rr f r t Fo blot c tic resift lt 1 han hao hand r sty head my-head head in shame and no lIU answer an But Un the theio c is is an n incident which 3 1 wish Ih to relate to you you OUt and which occurred very very's crt cr s 's tenth t This incident lit is b representative th of thou thou- I Lauds of other other- otherN XII tt N i one takes lakes notice entice of the the-e e mutt and lU i tie Tto o one otic would think il it worth wurth while hill to relate them I 1 am alii about to tu write to tu you ou is is Ir true le You 1 1 not bel eve me mc i if r I l gave l 1 my wor word of honor hOllor fur I yon you hl hove have n already 1 said To 10 the G German lill pie file honor honori i i j. j a l bootblack k to fatherland I do tto not give gin you yon my word of honor as a soldier soldier ball bah tl 1 Ill please g. g to s ou on my wor word of honor as is a 1 revolutionist rc I think it wa waft either cither on mr the thc first fir t or the second cond lai 11 of Ma hay Maat J at that time I was teas stationed at nl Heli- Heli ulan 1 we Wl received ld word that the a admiralty was wn 1 in its ib ts declaration that an exemplary y attack 1 be hc made lIuI against a n tartans certain trans Atlantic pHS pas seng Cl steamer leamer III In the tilt officers officers' quarters even this thi evidently Seri l' l oils was discounted by some ouie as ns a n klU jh i the tho AI Americans s from to discourage o pat pat- J II British vessels els I 1 m myself lIr believed cd nu and my f loos were Weft hared bared h by many of HI my toy fellow officers officer that an attack upon a British trans Atlantic pas pas- Ferger steamer would be Pie attempted Ic less to 1 1 d punishment on the British than for the thc internal 0 effect For 1001 the time unthinking folks folk in our country rv who teho had hOtl an aim exaggerated faith in our ml naval l plO l S' S were cre h beginning to doubt our invincibility iu both CM ct land laird and nud tea sea when the enemy vessels were s j the till seas CiS unmolested ted 80 as es though they had hats not DOt heard of the great world Our Ou ur ruling element may dispute or rather deny i itS contention but hut knowing our Hur domestic domet c c feeling feelings s I do llo 1 you on this thi is the the primal primal reason of or our our submarine warfare that has shocked the entire entire- rc- rc Civilized i world worM GEBMAN ADMIRALTY DESPERATE v Our 11 n admiralty i io is desperate It II will trill have haye to prove tint to our om fur enemies enemies ful for we do du nut not carl care what they think but think but but to our own Germans German that we have ha tint not yet et been exterminated in the North orth sea en This j is the vital ital point You Yon may readily understand its it Significance from the time ferocity city with which eh we m ate aie conducting ug this submarine campaign lI a l In the officers' officers quarters I 1 have heard no is hs than a ix ix su submarine commanders cu curse cure o the author 1 c of such an nn order 3 f t I have heard one commander stamp his foot nd d shout sternly I I am ow a i soldier not ilot a would rather 1 sink fuk mv my ship than execute such uch or or- or err ert f. f j You Iou still have ha Ill my word of ur honor as a 1 revolutionist o This Fills commander cr has not returned front from his Jis as- as ligament of ur murder it On Ou u the till third d day y of r rIn May In nine s Fo rim tomi com com- 1 i 4 i iU were closeted l with time tho comm at Ht u oi of our ourS our ouri JI S 51 It 1 YI t r t tl 1 a E y t 1 t X 1 z 1 j 4 P t. t t.'s s 's 1 r. r f 1 I w J r iS Jt 1 CO 2 ri r y 4 CAPTAINS CABIN J C ITRaL A A BOVE group RUDDER t 1 co of G e r man submarines in harbor harbor har hair bor below diagram diagram dia dia- gram showing intricate intricate in in- Y ix r construction f a w 1 t 4 and mechanism of modern submarine S o R J y i S e x v j g a ba base They were its il in inure mure thou than three luce hours No o other lH officer wa was as permitted tor to to lake part pait in the secret deliberations After Aftel the e the the submarine ne commanders came out Mill and n marched st rit I to t their heir l i I st stationed ti t at t the J Point I 1 sta- sta fi 9 tl myself near the submarine landing The flee pale laced offic officers officers' rs' rs marched nl l stern tragic c without speaking a word t to one another r. r The Time sight of t then them was pathetic One could envy those who were were- doomed to he be their victims rather than these poor pour souls who J haft had hearts but hut iI in-I in courage Ve Vs their thir hearts heart were jn just just as t. t as ns tender as ns yours and mine mine pern perhaps l more tender t that than mine trine I 1 do not thins think that eight men doomed hun hung Ining would have Im looked ook more moie affected tin thau these c eight f an unfortunate fortunate commanders who were litin Ij n sent out outto outto outto to murder thousands thousand of innocent souls I can hardly dwell cl upon the subject I know many all Germans men i mil end 1111 women wOHlen arc nrc being heing- tortured in thinking dunking of thi this treat shame IJ me The Thc commandant accompanied them to tu the lie land land- landin ill ins in and with a forced smile lUil offered hi his mail i to one Vito of the submarine who walked straight to tu his bis slip ship wit without honL even en noticing the haild har that was offered to bid bill him hini bon hon voyage e His His' example example ex- ex ample wn was f followed lIo b by tile the rest of the suhl submarine v wino commanders lC s. s The commandant stood there molion- molion lile a a i Macks Mack's tue r I suddenly saw p. p the e future nt J I 1 a. a sketch sketch- sketching ing our fatherland 11 zm as dark daVk as thai dint black bluck figure facing the turbulent waVes wa of f the North orth sea For Forthe Forthe the first time in iii all my ins' life I felt felt that I 1 should hould be bo ashamed for bc H. H a 1 German l Until the fatal I da day daye we e all 1111 waited for Ol news nes with ith on expectancy o You still have laye my word ort of fh honor nor s as an aim l r f EFF EFFECT CT OF TRAGIC NEWS VIC VICYe We Ye did IliJ not receive C receive the tilt sad 8 anti aud tragic hage n news news s wi with wilh h rejoicing r Far from it We Wc it We Wc murn it it W We hc discredited it We e denied it Had 1181 the emperor or hi appeared 1 that day da be lie would ha have been Itis hissed Many aH of us ns felt Mild I feared 1 I would lost lore m my head hend W We e all felt ill invisible rill fingers poi point pointing II t ill g- g at nt t u us men women children h bibes ha hes young Y 1 mg men then old uM men sailors and amid tit civilians pointing at us liS and w Impel ing crying r in and shouting They Thc arc are not soldiers they are arc not sailors sailor they are mur mur- One of f nty m my brother officers walked back aek null and forum forth in n his room all nil night Jon long uttering bitterly uel f ter the warA- warA affer fl i- i ih the h war war- al' al II How ca can l I 1 eyer r men other nations and I 1 German ft face u men of I SI say am n a 1 I was As on bourn bORn t when Lieutenant 1 o of 1 U arrived from his 1115 murderous assignment There was a suppressed restrained feeling among those u wh who ho stood iii ii as us the successful crew marched tl between silent statue like rows of men l J n. n Suddenly 1 1 heard of taunts and hisses These did liel not not emanate from the common ll r H hail Had tl this his been heen the fact they tt would have hec beets been shot J 1 instantly I The llie tann taunts and h hisses ss s came forth from the hi liili b ranking officers If you ou had heard th these e with your our own cars ears you ou U would unItI have ha certainly changed hang o tl your our estimate of our our our G Gorman soul I Jot reality these taunts bunts coming front our high ranking nuking officials bri brightened m my own wn soul No Xo we Wc are still human beings being we are arc still cr- cr THE HE Cunard liner Lusitania itania pride of the British mercantile fleet before the war which was sunk by a a. torpedo from a German submarine which dived and sped away after the work of destruction according to a description given to his fellow officers b by hy the lieutenant of N in command of the undersea craft i 1 t r I I 1 i f A j 0 0 il i 0 1 I i i I I I t 0 0 0 t 4 I 1 i 7 t S c r r t 1 tf I r i i 1 fr frt I i ii I t C t r 1 1 j t. t I d i y y Yr I 1 n ans B we ire hate hearts nn and souls which soon tsar cry ry out JUt I when Lieutenant visited the of of- I quat one hold bold naval nn off officer tl h hint Jn w v c containing the account of the sinking sinkin i i- i lu Itt itania Lieutenant Captain rum crum- I t i the sheets lle t with fur fury cast it on the floor and teed iced the tite jn insulter threateningly h The Tile offender cr stood a u overt U The two t officers faced each caci other for a n l or so su Then the o offending officer shook bK his head had and Hill in n t a low tone said Nor No o not pot with you ulm ou PEELING EELING AKIN TO CAIN CAnT 1 I could readily understand and appreciate how hots C am n i must t have felt I question myself H Would I J have hae obeyed act i ur order er Then I answered myself No Xu no nu n a n t wn tunes times no nu From Front that tuot time on every ery man tuan I J met from the tIlt common seaman teaman to the tile higl highest st c-st ranking officer a ap- ap in in a 11 gloomy mood 1 Our admiralty is not so o sure SUle of ever e every st submarine rate rine commander executing orders similar to this ibis Still Mill later when Captain Lieutenant Hersing entered en en- a loom moon where 1 J was 35 seated with mummy mum other officer officer- all nil lint but five left the tIle room The poor haunted commander on un geeing that at least five fi officers were not so cruel as ns to further inlet in- in let ull an am already suffering Ll soul walked to tic the small soup group and seated himself abjectly I know he was under r the strain train of tremendous ous mental agony He fie had a n childs chillIs tender heart but no head nd and his hig very heart appeared to er cry like e that of a chili child offer excuses es for his act net He l did not rai raise e hi his s head and without encouragement he murmured U I I hated to to do it it limn but I t felt fell th that l I 1 must Even discipline has its limitations retorted one of his listeners listener Lieutenant Hersing seemed eeme crushed bcd 1 1 hul truly pitied pits pit J iel hun him from the bottom of m my heart And if it you lt 1 hail been heen present there you yourself ron would hn pitied him hun lIe He io ro rope e from COm his seat walked slowly to tu that door stood on the threshold for fOI a moment or sit r n. n and then wheeled around and anti returned to the silent group ron 1 J felt that at it last he would deliver cr himself o ohis ins his souls soul's burden There were large e tears standing iu in mu his in III eyes I Althou Although h I did not write down clown as he spoke yep yepI cd I J could not ot have hac missed one oue word of what he said because eer every s syllable of it sank ank into our very mils and b by this time there were more than thirty 1 of u ti u x iu in iut the room He said r. r CAPTAIN HE HERSING'S SING S STORY I J ani not a monster Every gl glance nee of yours |
