TATTOOED ON U-BOAT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 157, 28 March 1919, Page 7

TATTOOED ON U-BOAT

STRANGE TALE OFFICIALLY EXPLODED. The following statement was issued by tho Prisoners of "War Department recently through the Press Bureau:— ' On December 7 Inst a statement appeared in the Press tiiat one Burton Mayberry, a ship's fireman, had arrived, at Newcastle, bearing on his cheeks tattoo marks representing heads of cobras, which he alleged had been inflicted by two sailors 011 the orders of 11. German submarine commander, in midAtlantic, npon the occasion of tlio torpedoing of Mayberry's ship in April, 1917. Pictures of Jlaybcrry, showing the head of a cobra on each cheek, have also appeared in various illustrated papers. The matter has been investigated, and it has been ascertained that 011 November 13 last Mayberry applied for mus-t-ration as a seaman prniar/.nry to offering himself for omplo.vmer.'. in fhe Britis"h mercantile marine, and that, in making his application, lie stated that ho lmd 110 previous sea service. I-Ie has now disappeared, and it seems that his disappearance took place after receiving a request to attend in order to receive his registration certificate. Former associates of Wayberiy state that he never made any allusion to the alleged' outrage. Frequent statements have recently appeared in the Press with regard lo the alleged branding of British soldiers by the Germans, but tho responsible authorities have been unable to obtain any confirmation of tliese allegations.