Some time after the war I was on a visit to Germany and was dining with a party of men who during hostilities had occupied important Positions, Among them was one who had been responsible for building 25 per cent. of the U-boats, so 1 related my account of how the Calgarian met her doom.
I stressed the tact that notwithstanding our 20 knots speed, our zigzagging, and the protection of a destroyer on either bow, the first attack had been a success Then 1 referred to the subsequent smoke screen and the flotilla of craft which came along to lend their protection.
"Yet despite all this," I added, "the U-boat got through and finished the job. A damn smart bit of work! And if that submarine commander is alive today I should like to shake hands with him."
The effect of these words, spoken in all sincerity, was remarkable. Every one of those Germans rose to his feet by the table, bowed. and then followed a significant acknowledgment "Thank you, sir Only an Englishman would. have made Statement, and We greatly appreciate At the time I did not know—nor indeed, till years afterwards—that W 19 had been my enemy. Spiess rvived the war and the revolution hich followed, but I have not yet run across him. T should be interested to know what he felt like among all those steel-stems and revolving propellers, ing at that slow pace through such a confined passage would be inviting trouble, we requested permission to proceed independently, which was granted. The Calgarian increased her speed to 20 knots as she approached Rathlin Island. The weather was] fine and clear. I was walking up and down the look-out bridge while the ship kept up its zigzag: A couple of destroyers protected us.
In these circumstances all danger—to me at least—seemed beyond possibility. In fact, I recollect remarking to the watch-keeping lieutenant Queen Mary Thoroughly Recovered
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.