WAR- CHRONICLE

57
14 fll October 1914.
1 was interrupted writing this, the day before yesterday, as we
had to put out to sea suddenly for a few hours to hunt an English
submarine, which of course had got off beforehand. Yesterday I
was busy all day. We got the report from U . . . that the
Russian cruiser "Pallade" with a torpedo was sunk in 3 minutes.
If only the boats that are still out could destroy a few of the English.
We see from all the measures, which the British Admiralty
lias taken, that they are dead afraid of boats of our U-class, and
do not feel safe anywhere. The whole English coast is full of mines
and yet we try to get through. I should just like to know where
our 60 English colleagues are hiding. What cowards the fellows
are! Please be good enough to write how much money you have
of mine, as long as the war lasts the Staatskasse in Kiel will send
Mk. 150.— on the first of each month.
S. M. Submarine U , . . , 18 th October 1914.
Dear Mother,
1 have only a few minutes time to write, but want to let you
know that we put out to sea to-morrow to do some work which
may last some time. We shall probably start about 4 a. in. I have
a thousand things to do, and must see that my torpédos are in order.
We expect to .be out about a fortnight, so I shall not be able to
write to you. I tell you this now, so that you will not be uneasy
at getting no news from me. I hope I shall be able to get the Iron
Cross—as soon as we have done our job, we come back again. I
shall give you news as soon as possible.
A Farewell-letter from S. M. S. "Niirnberg."
The following sailor's letter, which has now reached his relations
in Berlin, has been placed at our disposal:—
Valparaiso, 2 nd November 1914.
My dear Parents and Sisters !
Last night we have been under fire for the first time, off the
heights of Valparaiso. Two English armoured cruisers "Good Hope"
and "Monmouth" were sunk. The latter received the last blow
from us. An auxiliary cruiser and the small cruiser "Glasgow"
escaped damaged.
The weather was very bad, but that is nothing unusual near
Cape Horn, and when the giant sank with its red keel upward in
front of us, a gruesome feeling came over me.
Well, we are soldiers and have done'our duty. None of our
men have been wounded and of the whole squadron only the
" Gneisenau " was hit. This is hardly to be credited, but it is a fact.