Post by dex on Nov 12, 2021 12:54:12 GMT -5
How a German U-boat captain hoodwinked Newport in 1916
Daniel F. Harrington Special to Providence Journal USA TODAY NETWORK One hundred and five years ago, on a gorgeous October afternoon, an object appeared in Newport harbor that would threaten to upend a presidential election and drag America into a bloody war.
It was Saturday, Oct. 7, 1916. President Woodrow Wilson was battling to keep neutral America out of World War I, already in its second year, and he was trailing Republican Charles 'The Bearded Iceberg' Hughes in the polls.
Enter the dashing Lieutenant Commander Hans Rose of Germany, 30, and his sparkling new submarine, the U-35. After securing proper permission, the clever U-boat captain dropped anchor just off the aptly named Rose Island in Newport Harbor, bellowing from a megaphone to the naval brass assembled at the nearby U.S. Naval War College, 'I salute my American comrades!'
He would remain in Newport for only two hours, but it was enough to cause all the world to hold its breath.
Within minutes, Rose made it to shore to meet Admiral Austin Knight and other dignitaries who, along with their wives, would tour the German submarine while its crew of 36 men, dressed in their finery, entertained their American visitors.
The gravity of the situation was all too real. German U-boats had brought Britain and France to their knees with their deadly torpedoes while America and Germany clung to a fragile treaty that barely kept America out of the war and out of Germany’s gunsights.
It wasn’t until the following day that the thorns of Rose’s goodwill visit were revealed.
Unnoticed by nearly everyone, Rose was careful to secure copies of The Providence Journal and The New York Times under the guise of being a happy tourist. But of course, these publications were rich in East Coast shipping news and the lieutenant would put these to good use. On Sunday, Oct. 8 the U-35 would sink five foreign merchant vessels, including three belonging to Great Britain, just off the Nantucket Shoals.
Britain demanded a formal complaint be lodged by President Wilson and quietly hoped for a declaration of war. Wilson, clinging to neutrality and the polls, offered neither. To make matters worse, a U.S. destroyer had obeyed Rose’s order to stand aside before he torpedoed one of the vessels, although to Rose’s credit, he allowed all passengers to vacate the ships before destroying them.
Still, ex-president Theodore Roosevelt, candidate Hughes’ de facto campaign manager, wasted no time in eviscerating the president. 'Instead of speaking softly and carrying a big stick, President Wilson spoke bombastically and carried a dish rag,' he said. Candidate Iceberg’s comment were less memorable: 'We have had intermittent peace without honor and intermittent war without honor.' Sure.
Wilson remained calm and
30 days later the Democrat was reelected as president of the United States. Six months after Rose’s unannounced visit — almost to the day — America finally declared war on Germany and entered World War I.
Lieutenant Rose would continue to surprise and find the spotlight.
Despite casualty rates of up to 70% for U-boat crewman Hans Rose would survive World War I, serve as an instructor and survive World War II and die a natural death at the age of 84 in 1969. The Pour le Merite recipient is remembered not only for sinking some 70 ships but also for his humanity; routinely allowing for or arranging the rescue of passengers on the vessels he engaged.
Rose and his U-35 are immortalized in a series of paintings by maritime artist Claus Bergen. It is not known if he ever returned to Newport or ever picked up another copy of The Providence Journal.
Daniel F. Harrington (danielfharrington@yahoo.com), a monthly contributor, lives in Warwick.
Daniel F. Harrington Special to Providence Journal USA TODAY NETWORK One hundred and five years ago, on a gorgeous October afternoon, an object appeared in Newport harbor that would threaten to upend a presidential election and drag America into a bloody war.
It was Saturday, Oct. 7, 1916. President Woodrow Wilson was battling to keep neutral America out of World War I, already in its second year, and he was trailing Republican Charles 'The Bearded Iceberg' Hughes in the polls.
Enter the dashing Lieutenant Commander Hans Rose of Germany, 30, and his sparkling new submarine, the U-35. After securing proper permission, the clever U-boat captain dropped anchor just off the aptly named Rose Island in Newport Harbor, bellowing from a megaphone to the naval brass assembled at the nearby U.S. Naval War College, 'I salute my American comrades!'
He would remain in Newport for only two hours, but it was enough to cause all the world to hold its breath.
Within minutes, Rose made it to shore to meet Admiral Austin Knight and other dignitaries who, along with their wives, would tour the German submarine while its crew of 36 men, dressed in their finery, entertained their American visitors.
The gravity of the situation was all too real. German U-boats had brought Britain and France to their knees with their deadly torpedoes while America and Germany clung to a fragile treaty that barely kept America out of the war and out of Germany’s gunsights.
It wasn’t until the following day that the thorns of Rose’s goodwill visit were revealed.
Unnoticed by nearly everyone, Rose was careful to secure copies of The Providence Journal and The New York Times under the guise of being a happy tourist. But of course, these publications were rich in East Coast shipping news and the lieutenant would put these to good use. On Sunday, Oct. 8 the U-35 would sink five foreign merchant vessels, including three belonging to Great Britain, just off the Nantucket Shoals.
Britain demanded a formal complaint be lodged by President Wilson and quietly hoped for a declaration of war. Wilson, clinging to neutrality and the polls, offered neither. To make matters worse, a U.S. destroyer had obeyed Rose’s order to stand aside before he torpedoed one of the vessels, although to Rose’s credit, he allowed all passengers to vacate the ships before destroying them.
Still, ex-president Theodore Roosevelt, candidate Hughes’ de facto campaign manager, wasted no time in eviscerating the president. 'Instead of speaking softly and carrying a big stick, President Wilson spoke bombastically and carried a dish rag,' he said. Candidate Iceberg’s comment were less memorable: 'We have had intermittent peace without honor and intermittent war without honor.' Sure.
Wilson remained calm and
30 days later the Democrat was reelected as president of the United States. Six months after Rose’s unannounced visit — almost to the day — America finally declared war on Germany and entered World War I.
Lieutenant Rose would continue to surprise and find the spotlight.
Despite casualty rates of up to 70% for U-boat crewman Hans Rose would survive World War I, serve as an instructor and survive World War II and die a natural death at the age of 84 in 1969. The Pour le Merite recipient is remembered not only for sinking some 70 ships but also for his humanity; routinely allowing for or arranging the rescue of passengers on the vessels he engaged.
Rose and his U-35 are immortalized in a series of paintings by maritime artist Claus Bergen. It is not known if he ever returned to Newport or ever picked up another copy of The Providence Journal.
Daniel F. Harrington (danielfharrington@yahoo.com), a monthly contributor, lives in Warwick.
