The Diary of a U-boat Commander | Page 6

Reef swept channel.
Ten minutes later we underwent the first of five destroyer attacks.
The British destroyers, searching wide in the night, had located us, and
with desperate gallantry pressed home the attack again and again. So
close did they come that about 1.30 a.m. we rammed one, passing
through her like a knife through a cheese.
It was a wonderful spectacle to see those sinister craft, rushing madly to

their destruction down the bright beam of our powerful searchlights. It
was an avenue of death for them, but to the credit of their Service it
must stand that throughout the long nightmare they did not hesitate.
The surrounding darkness seemed to vomit forth flotilla after flotilla of
these cavalry of the sea.
And they struck us once, a torpedo right forward, which will keep us in
dock for a month, but did no vital injury.
When morning dawned, misty and soft, as is its way in June in the
Bight, we were to the eastward of the British, and so we came
honourably home to Wilhelmshaven, feeling that the young Navy had
laid worthy foundations for its tradition to grow upon.
We are to report at Kiel, and shall be six weeks upon the job.

Frankfurt.
Back on seventeen days' leave, and everyone here very anxious to hear
details of the battle of Skajerack.
It is very pleasant to have something to talk to the women about.
Usually the gallant field greys hold the drawing-room floor, with their
startling tales from the Western Front, of how they nearly took Verdun,
and would have if the British hadn't insisted on being slaughtered on
the Somme.
It is quite impossible in many ways to tell that there is a war on as far
as social life in this place is concerned.
There is a shortage of good coffee and that is about all.
* * * * *
Arrived back on board last night.

They have made a fine job of us, and we go through the canal to the
Schillig Roads early next week.
We are to do three weeks' gunnery practices from there, to train the
new drafts.

1916 (about August).
At last! Thank Heavens, my application has been granted. Schmitt (the
Secretary) told me this morning that a letter has come from the
Admiralty to say that I am to present myself for medical examination at
the board at Wilhelmshaven to-morrow.
What joy! to strike a blow at last, finished for ever the cursed
monotony of inactivity of this High Seas Fleet life. But the U-boat war!
Ah! that goes well. We shall bring those stubborn, blood-sucking
islanders to their knees by striking at them through their bellies.
When I think of London and no food, and Glasgow and no food, then
who can say what will happen? Revolt! rebellion in England, and our
brave field greys on the west will smash them to atoms in the spring of
1917, and I, Karl Schenk, will have helped directly in this! Great
thought--but calm! I am not there yet, there is still this confounded
medical board. I almost wish I had not drunk so much last night, not
that it makes any difference, but still one must run no risks, for I hear
that the medical is terribly strict for the U-boat service. Only the cream
is skimmed! Well, to-morrow we shall see.
* * * * *
Passed! and with flying colours; it seemed absurdly easy and only took
ten minutes, but then my physique is magnificent, thanks to the
physical training I have always done. I am now due to get three weeks'
leave, and then to Zeebrugge.
I have wired to the little mother at Frankfurt.

* * * * *
At Zeebrugge, or rather Bruges.
I spent three weeks at home, all the family are pleased except mother;
she has a woman's dread of danger; it is a pleasing characteristic in
peace time, but a cloy on pleasure in days of war. To her, with the
narrowness of a female's intellect, I really believe I am of more
importance than the Fatherland--how absurd. Whilst at Frankfurt I saw
a good deal of Rosa; she seems better looking each time I meet her;
doubtless she is still developing to full womanhood. Moritz was home
from Flanders. He had ten days' leave from Ypres, and, though I have a
dislike for him, he certainly was interesting, though why the English
cling to those wretched ruins is more than I can understand.
I felt instinctively that in a sense Moritz and I were rivals where Rosa
was concerned, though I have never considered her in that light--as yet.
One day, perhaps? These women are much the same everywhere, and I
could see that having entered the U-boat service made