World War, 1914-1918 -- Naval operations -- Submarine
The _Gamma_ was a neutral vessel laden with cargo for a neutral
Government, but the fact was totally disregarded by the Germans. Fire
was opened recklessly and without warning, and it was merely a matter
of chance that no lives were lost. Having looted the vessel in true
pirate style, the Germans refused the Dutchmen a tow. Once more it
was only through good fortune that their boat happened to be picked
up before any of the crew had died from exposure. The Germans showed
themselves to be arbitrary, discourteous, and robbers.
At 12.15 p.m. on the 2nd February, 1917, a U-boat suddenly appeared
alongside the Russian sailing vessel _Garnet Hill_ and ordered the crew
to abandon the ship at once. When this had been done, bombs were placed
in the vessel, which sank in about five minutes after the explosion.
The Germans took the master's chronometer and a lot of clothes. They
also took off one member of the crew who declared himself to be a
German. The boats were picked up 28 hours later.
This is a case that gives one an insight into German methods, and
suggests the possibilities of the seaman as spy. Obviously these
possibilities are very great, although we cannot say for certain to
what extent the services of the seaman-spy have been utilised by
Germany in her submarine campaign. Many a ship may have been betrayed
by Germans masquerading under some other nationality. The idea of the
sea-spy is so essentially Teutonic that it must have been exploited by
the Berlin Government. Thus, although the _Garnet Hill_ provides an
instance of the Pirate as Thief, it is perhaps more interesting as an
instance of the Pirate as Spy.
The British trawler _Romeo_ was sunk by a German submarine at 2
p.m. on the 3rd February, 1917. Before sinking her the Germans
ransacked the vessel and took away her ensign, ship's stores, clocks,
weather-glasses, the clothes of the crew, and the skipper's kit. The
crew were picked up by a patrol-boat at 5 p.m. the same day.
On the 4th February, 1917, at 6 p.m. the British steamship _Dauntless_
was struck on the funnel by a shot. The master at once gave the order
"Hard a-starboard," but before it could be executed a shell struck the
bridge, damaging the steering-gear and wounding the master and the
man at the wheel. Shells began to fly over the ship, the engines were
stopped, and both life-boats were lowered. One fireman was killed on
deck, but the rest of the crew reached the boats in safety, although
firing was continued all this time. When the starboard life-boat had
got a little way from the ship the submarine appeared alongside and
ordered all hands on board. The lifeboat was then manned by Germans,
who proceeded to the vessel, presently returning with various tinned
provisions, some turpentine, and enamel, which were taken on board the
submarine. They had also brought away the ship's jolly-boat.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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