The Diary of a U-boat Commander

 

 

 One volume of my war-journal completed, and I must confess it is dull reading. 

 I could not help smiling as I read my enthusiastic remarks at the outbreak of war, when we visualized battles by the week. What a contrast between our expectations and the actual facts. 

 Months of monotony, and I haven't even seen an Englishman yet. 

 Our battle cruisers have had a little amusement with the coast raids at Scarborough and elsewhere, but we battle-fleet fellows have seen nothing, and done nothing. 

 So I have decided to volunteer for the U-boat service, and my name went in last week, though I am told it may be months before I am taken, as there are about 250 lieutenants already on the waiting list. 

 But sooner or later I suppose something will come of it. 

 I shall have no cause to complain of inactivity in that Service, if I get there. 

 I am off to-night for a six-days trip, two days of which are to be spent in the train, to the Verdun sector. 

 It has been a great piece of luck. The trip had been arranged by the Military and Naval Inter-communication Department; and two officers from this squadron were to go. 

 There were 130 candidates, so we drew lots; as usual I was lucky and drew one of the two chances. 

 It should be intensely interesting. 

 At ---- 

 I arrived here last night after a slow and tiresome journey, which was somewhat alleviated by an excellent bottle of French wine which I purchased whilst in the Champagne district. 

 Long before we reached the vicinity of Verdun it was obvious to the most casual observer that we were heading for a centre of unusual activity. 

 Hospital trains travelling north-east and east were numerous, and twice our train, which was one of the ordinary military trains, was shunted on to a siding to allow troop trains to rumble past. 

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