SUBMARINE U9.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 1, 30 November 1914, Page 8

SUBMARINE U9.

COMMANDER TEIXS HIS STORY. lIOW TIIU THREE CRUISERS WERE SUXK. Through the German Admiralty the following story of Capt.-Lteut. Otto Weddigen, commander of Submarine U!), whose feat in destroying three British • cruisers has been one of the startling events of the war, is made public. (By Capt. Otto Weddigen, Commander of the German submarine U'.)). Berlin, October fi. (Delayed'by Censor). ' I sot out from a North iSea port from one of the arms of the 3viel Canal and set my course in a south-westerly direction. The name of the port I cannot state officially, but it lias been guessed at, nor am I permitted to say definitely where we started, but it was not many days before the morning of .September 22 when I fell in with my quarry. British torpedo boats came within my reach, but I felt there was bigger game further on, so on t went. It was ten minutes after six on the morning of last Tuesday when I caught sight of one of the big cruisers of the enemy. I was then eighteen sea miles northwesterly of the Hook of Holland. I had travelled considerably more than 10ft miles from my base. I had been going ahead partially submerged, with about five feet of my periscope showing

GET SIGHT OF HIS (JU]A"RRY, Almost immediately I caught sight oi the lirst cruiser and two others. I submerged completely, and laid my course in order to bring me up in the centre of the trio, which held iv sort of a triangular formation. I could see their grey black sides riding high over the water. ,

When I first sighted- them tliey were near enough for torpedo work, but I wanted to make my aim sure, so I went down and in on them. I had taken the position of the three ships before submerging, and I succeeded in geeting another Hash through my periscope before commencing action. I soon reached what I considered a good shooting point.

TORPEDO HITS BULL'S-EYE. Then I loosed one of the torpedoes at the middle ship. I was then about twelve under water and got the shot off in good shape, my men handling the boat as if it had been a skill'. I climbed to the surface to get a view through my tube of the effect, and discovered that the shot had gojie straight and true, striking the ship, which I later learned w as the Aboukir, under one of its magazines, which in exploding helped the work of tlx: destruction.

There was a fountain of water, a burts of smoke, a flash of fire, and part of tiie cruiser rose in the air. ,

SEEKS OUT OTHER CRUISERS. Its crew were brave, and even with death staring them in the face, kept to their posts. I submerged'' at once. But I had stayed on top long enough to see the other cruisers, which we learned were the Creasy and the Hogue, turn and steam full speed to their dying sister.

As I reached my torpedo depth, I sent another torpedo at one of the oncoming ■vessels, which was tlie Hogue. The English were playing my game, for I had scarcely to move out of my position, which was a great aid, since it helped me from detection. The attack on the Hogue went true. But this time I did not have the ad-, vantageous aid of having the torpedo detonate nuder the magazine, so for twenty minutes the Hogue lay helpless and wounded on the surface before it heaved, half turned over, and sank,

THIRD CRUISER HUNTED DOWS. By this time the third cruiser knew, of course, that the enemy was upon it, and it sought as best as it could to defend itself. It loosed, its torpedo defence batteries on bows, starboard, and port, and stood its ground as if more anxious to help its own sailors in the water than to save itself. In common with the method of defending itself against a submarine attack, its steamed in a zig-zag course, and this made it necessary for me to hold my torpedoes until I could lay a true course for them, which also made it necessary for me to get nearer to the Cressy. I had to come to the surface for a vievr, and saw how wildly the fire was heiiy sent from the ship. Small won-Ji-r that was when they did not know where to shoot, although one shot went unpleasantly near us.