The Diary of a U-boat Commander | Page 7

a difference with
Rosa, though her logic should have told her that I was no different. But
is that right? After all, it is something to have joined this service; the
Guards themselves have no better cachet, and it is certainly cheaper.
Here we live in billets and in a commandeered hotel. The life ashore is
pleasant enough; the damned Belgians are sometimes sulky, but they
know who is master. Bissing (a splendid chap) sees to that.
As a matter of fact we have benefited them by our occupation, the
shops do a roaring trade at preposterous prices, and shamefully enough
the German shopkeepers are most guilty. These pot-bellied merchants
don't seem to realize that they exist owing to our exertions.
I was much struck with the beautiful orderliness of the small gardens
which we have laid out since 1914, and, in fact, wherever one looks
there is evidence of the genius of the German race for thorough
organization. Yet these Belgians don't seem to appreciate it. I can't
understand it.

I find here that social life is very much gayer than at that mad town of
Wilhelmshaven. At the High Seas Fleet bases there was the strictness
and austerity that some people seem to consider necessary to show that
we are at war, though Heaven knows there was precious little war in
the High Seas Fleet; perhaps that was why the "blood and iron" régime
was in full order ashore. Here, in Bruges, at any rate as far as the
submarine officers are concerned, the matter is far different. When the
boats are in, one seems to do as one likes, with a perfunctory visit to
the ship in the course of the day.
Witnitz (the Commodore) favours complete relaxation when in from a
trip. In the evenings there are parties, for which there are always ladies,
and I find it is necessary to have a "smoking."[1] I went to the best
tailor to buy one, and found that I must have one made at the damnable
price of 140 marks; the fitter, an oily Jew, had the incredible
impertinence to assure me it would be cut on London lines!
[Footnote 1: A dinner jacket.]
I nearly felled him to the ground; can one never get away from England
and things English? I'll see his account waits a bit before I settle it.
There are several fellows I know here. Karl Müller, who was 3rd
watchkeeper in the Yorck, and Adolf Hilfsbaumer, who was captain of
G.176, are the two I know best. They are both doing a few trips as
second in commands of the later U.C. boats, which are mine-laying off
the English coasts. This is a most dangerous operation, and nearly all
the U.C. boats are commanded by reserve officers, of whom there are a
good many in the Mess.
Excellent fellows, no doubt, but somewhat uncouth and lacking the
finer points of breeding; as far as I can see in the short time I have been
here they keep themselves to themselves a good deal. I certainly don't
wish to mix with them. Unfortunately, it appears that I am almost
bound to be appointed as second in command of one of the U.C. boats,
for at least one trip before I go to the periscope school and train for a
command of my own. The idea of being bottled up in an elongated
cigar and under the command of one of those nautical plough-boys is

repellent. However, the Von Schenks have never been too proud to
obey in order to learn how to command.
* * * * *
I have been appointed second in command to U.C.47. Her captain is
one Max Alten by name. Beyond the fact that I saw him drunk one
night in the Mess I know nothing of him.
I reported to him and he seems rather in awe of me. His fears are
groundless.
I shall make it as easy as possible for him, for it must be as awkward
for him as it is unpleasant for me.
To celebrate my proper entry into the U-boat service, I gave a dinner
party last night in a private room at "Le Coq d'Or." I asked Karl and
Adolf, and told them to bring three girls. My opposite number was a
lovely girl called Zoe something or other. I wore my "smoking" for the
first time; it is certainly a becoming costume.
We drank a good deal of champagne and had a very pleasant little
debauch; the girls got very merry, and I kissed Zoe once. She was not
very angry. I think she is thoroughly charming, and I have accepted an
invitation to take tea at her flat. She is either the wife or the chère amie
of a colonel in the