Fortunately, when we
had started I had pumped in from five to six tons of water, filling all
the tanks. I increased the weight of the boat to the utmost, and
suddenly we felt a shock and were clear of the netting. I then descended
as deeply in the water as I could, the manometer showing thirty metres.
We remained under water for eighteen hours. When I wanted to ascertain
where we were I noticed that my compass was out of order. For a time I
steered by the green color of the water, but at last I had to get rid of
the ballast in order to rise. I then discovered that the manometer
continued to register the same depth, and was also out of order.
"I had, therefore, to be very careful not to rise too high and thus
attract the attention of the torpedo-boats. Slowly the periscope rose
above the surface, and I could see the enemy in front of me, and toward
the left the east coast of England. I tried to turn to starboard, but
the rudder did not work. In consequence, I had to sink again to the
bottom of the sea, where I remained for six hours, at the end of which
time I had succeeded in putting the compass in order, and also in
repairing the steering-gear. But upon rising this time, we were detected
by a torpedo-boat, which made straight for us, forcing me to descend
again." (This apparently was before depth-bombs came into use.) "I
remained submerged for two hours, then turned slowly outward, and at a
distance of some fifty metres from the leading enemy craft, passed
toward the open sea.
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