"On October 7, 1916, U-53 dropped anchor ... in the midst of a US destroyer squadron."
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winds and 30-ft waves continua ll y threatened to abort the mi ssion . However, the Shetlands were passed on September 20 and U-53 was able to continue westward. Despite minor storm damage and the accidental opening of an exhaust port during a dive, which flood ed one of the engine compartments, the boat reached the Newfoundland coast early on October 2 amidst a brilliant di splay of the northern lights. Early on October 6, U-53 found herself off the New England coast. An earlier wireless message had informed Rose of the unfortunate sinking of the supply Uboat Bremen by the Allies, the bait in the trap which would lure British warships within range of the German 's torpedoes. Consequently, another supply submarine bearing the same name was di spatched immediately. Rose made the dec ision not to await the second Bremen's arrival, but to proceed as per hi s orders directly to Newport, Rhode Island , since no enemy German submarine U-53 at Newport RI, with officers.and crew posed on conning warships had been sighted thus far. U-53 anchored in 23 tower. She subsequently attacked Allied sluppmg off the US East Coast. meters of water and awaited first light. At dawn the boat and left him momentarily confused. After taking his leave, surfaced and proceeded on diesels toward the American har- Rose was directed to Admiral G leaves, commanding officerof bor, already well within US territorial waters. Soon the Ger- the cruiser Birmingham, who received theGerman with a good man lookouts observed a periscope. An American submarine deal more friendliness and courtesy , inquiring about all the slow ly surfaced nearby and hove to. As the two boats came detail s of the Atlantic crossi ng, the construction of the German within hailing di stance, Rose called to the Americans with his boat, and old friends he knew in the German Navy. After a megaphone: "Greetings to my American comrades. I will short yet pleasant conversation, Rose returned to his submafollow in yo ur wake!" With an "O.K.!" the American com- rine, only to find a large number of American officers being mander proceeded into Newport harbor, fo llowed closely by shown the vessel by hi s crew. After a few minutes a group of the German vessel. On October7, 191 6, U-53 dropped anchor naval wives joined their husbands on deck; this seemed to be in the American port in the midst of a US destroyer squadron . the signal for an even larger influx of Newport residents to Rose immed iately went ashore to pay his respects to the board U-53 . Soon her decks and compartments were filled base commander, who identified himself as Admiral Knight. with exc ited curiosity seekers. At the height of this confusion The 15-minute meeting between the two officers was a rather Admiral Gleaves, his wife and young daughter decided to uncomfortable one, as the American seemed ill-at-ease about repay Rose's earlier visit and made their appearance alongside the fact that an armed German vessel had just put into hi s the U-boat. The German captain graciously invited them to his faci lity unannounced, yet, at the same time, requested nothing cabin where he entertained them with champagne and cake. from him: no fue l, food , water or repairs. The German had , it Shortly thereafter an officer brought Rose a message from seemed, mere ly dropped in for a goodwill visit! Considering Admiral Knight to the effect that the "submarine tour" would events taking place just outside US territorial waters between have to be interrupted and all Americans must leave the English vessels and German U-boats, the sudden appearance German vessel at once because of the harbor quarantine law. of Rose and hi s submarine had caught the admiral off guard Since the senior naval physician at Newport had him self just Visitors come aboard U-53 at Newpo rt RI, October 7, 1916. US cruiser Birmingham, left the submari ne and had said nothing in the background right, will herself be hunting U-boats in just six months. about any quarantine, Rose took this to i - ,( mean that specific orders had most likely arrived from Washington regarding hi s unexpected visit. Rather than risk internment, he decided to leave Newport immediately. After little more than two and a half hours in America, with the first part of hi s mission concl uded, U-53 weighed anchor and headed out to sea, its departure excited ly accompanied by friendly waves, shouts, whistles and horn blasts from the Americans. Now Ka pi tanleutnant Rose was abo ut to carry out the second , more bellicose phase of U•I 53 's orders. . .. to be continued.
A professor of German at Edinboro University ofPennyslvania, Mr. Hajewski has published numerous articles on military-related topics .
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