SUBMARINE WARFARE

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16206, 8 May 1918, Page 7

SUBMARINE WARFARE

(By Cable.—Pre&» AMOcialion.—Copyright,) (Australian and N.Z, Cablo Aiiociation.) (Received May 7th, 7.10 p.m.) LONDON.. May C. The story is published of U-boat 39, which sank tho steamers Id A, Hauna Larsen, and Sanskmcb, in February, 1917. Otto Ehrentruut, who was a personal friend of l'rinco Henry of Prussia, commanded the U3O. Princess Henry came 'o tho pier, at Kiel and ■wished the hoat boii voyage. The submarine secured its three victims within 3G hours. AVhen thp Ida stopped after the first round from the submarine, the latter continued firing. A gunlaycr asked Ehrentraut whether ho would cease firing, l>ut the captain paid: 'Carry on,'' awl 2o rounds were fired. A few hours later tho submarine fired on another steamer. Her fire was immediately answered hy a British destroyer, The 1J39 dived, but a depth charge shook her vitally, and water poured through lior conning tower. Tho crow Itecanio panic-stricken, and the submarine r&;. Tho destroyer raked her fore and .ift. Ehrentraut climbed cut of the conning tower, and was proparing to surrender when a shell killed him. The submarine was still making speed on tho surface, so the destroyer continued to fire. Three of the crew jumped overboard and were drowned. Throe others were killed, and several woum'.-id. Tho destroyer hailed the submarine to stop, and this order was complied with, so fire ceased. Seventeen survivors were rescued, also two British prisoners A 'lhitch correspondent states that rmong the submarino men now no sanguine feeling exists as to the result of tho Crcrman blockade. The men are doing their work, but are not imbyed with vou Tirpitz's confidence. The German ptihlie does not know tho number of submarines which fail to return.