World War, 1914-1918 -- Naval operations -- Submarine
The captain of the U-boat was a charming prisoner. He was taken aboard
the _Maidstone_ and put in a cabin under medical care. His clothes
were dried and other clothes given him. When he had recovered he went
off to a prisoners' camp, from whence he wrote peremptory letters to
the _Maidstone_ officers accusing them of having stolen his
waistcoat, and presenting a bill for its value if not instantly
returned. The _Maidstone_ view of the matter was that they hadn't
got his beastly waistcoat, didn't believe he'd ever had one, and
wouldn't touch it with a barge-pole if he had. Considering they could
not have treated him with more consideration if he had been one of
themselves, and that incidentally they had saved his life--well, the
Hun _is_ a queer person and we'll never be able to understand him.
The story of the sinking of "E 14" (Lieut.-Commander White) in the
Dardanelles has already appeared in print, so I shall not tell it
again. But the thought of German submarine officers leads to
comparisons, and perhaps a submarine sailor had better give his views
about it here:--
"Copy of letter received by H.M.S. _Adamant_ from Petty Officer R.
A. Perkins (late of S/M "E 14"), Prisoner of War, No. 5456,
Fabrique de Cement, Eski Hissar, Guebzeh, Asia Minor."
"DEAR SIR,--No doubt the officers and men of the _Adamant_ and
submarines would like to know what became of the captain and two
officers. I am very sorry to say that Mr White was almost blown to
pieces by a large shell which wounded three other men, and I
believe it killed Mr Drew, as I was with both of them. I saw the
captain's body, but nothing of Mr Drew, so I think he must have
been killed and fell into the sea. Mr Blasset was last seen in the
engine-room, so went down with the boat. It was a credit to us all
to think that we had such a brave captain, and, sir, if only I
could mention a few things about him; but owing to his coolness he
saved the boat half a dozen times. It is a great pity that no
officer was saved to tell the tale. I also mention A.B. Mitchell
and Signalman Trimbell for gallantry in diving overboard and saving
the life of Prichard, Ord. Tel., who was badly wounded, and would
have lost his life had it not been for both of these men keeping
him afloat until assistance arrived. I am glad to say that all men
that were wounded were sent to hospital ten minutes after being
captured, and were treated very well. The remaining five men,
except Stoker Reed, have had a bad attack of fever since being
captured. We are all sorry that so few men were saved, and, as I
have said, our gallant captain. This is all I have to report."
Being the senior survivor, Petty Officer Perkins reports as such. If
his officers had lived I think it probable we would have heard
something to the credit of Petty Officer Perkins.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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