Five Months on a German Raider - Being the Adventures of an Englishman Captured by the 'Wolf' by Frederic George Trayes
page 65 of 125 (52%)
page 65 of 125 (52%)
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to do nothing quite comfortably!
We were at liberty to go practically where we liked on board, but we were never able to get far away from the German sailors, who always appeared to be listening to our conversation, no matter where we were. As on the _Wolf_, they were sometimes caught spying on us, and listening at the portholes or ventilators of our cabins. We next picked up the _Wolf_ on the afternoon of December 19th, and heard that since we had last seen her she had sunk a French sailing vessel, the _Maréchal Davout_, loaded with grain for Europe. The _Wolf_ usually sent us over a budget of wireless news when she had been away from us any length of time. I remember an item of news on one occasion, in which Mr. Lloyd George in a speech said we were getting on the track of the submarines and that we had sunk five in one day. This gave great mirth to the Germans, who naturally refused to believe it--they said they had lost only a dozen since the war began! On one occasion the Captain informed us of a "great British victory. Joy-bells are ringing all over England. The British have captured a trench and have advanced ten yards!" This was the victory at Cambrai! The two ships proceeded on parallel courses for Trinidad, but about 8 p.m. both ships turned sharply round and doubled on their tracks, proceeding on a south-easterly course at full speed. We learnt the reason for this the next day. German raiders had previously coaled and hidden at Trinidad; but Brazil was now in the war, so that hole was stopped, and the _Wolf_ had intercepted a wireless from the Commander of a Brazilian cruiser to the garrison on Trinidad. Hence her rapid flight! But for that wireless message, the _Wolf_ would have walked right into the trap, and we should have been free within twelve hours from the time |
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