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January 16, 1918 - German U-Boat Commander's Taunt

Don Martin diary entry for Wednesday, January 16, 1918: 
Saw Mr. Sutherland, Secretary to Lloyd George relative to interviews with the Premier. He thinks he may be able to arrange one. Pretty difficult to get things done quickly in England. Called on Louis Nethersole at Lyric Theatre to arrange interview with Doris Keane, American actress who has been playing [Mme. Margherita Cavallini in] “Romance” here for 3 years. He said he would like to have me at luncheon with her next Thursday.
Had dinner at Simpson’s with Mr. Whaley, the man whom I met on the ship. Then went to Fleet St.  Judd Welliver came into office and Champion and I went to his office to see photographs of his family which just came. A fine family he has.
Weather rainy + foggy

      Don Martin wrote a story about a famous German submarine commander that day, which was published in the New York Herald the next day on Thursday, January 17, 1918.

‘COME AND GET ME; HERE I AM,’ IS HANS ROSE’S NIGHTLY TAUNT TO U.S. DESTROYERS
Famous Commander of U-Boat Gives His Position to Americans by Wireless, but They Never Have Been Able to Find Him
[Special Cable to the Herald]
Herald Bureau, No. 130 Fleet Street, London, Wednesday
     Commanders and crews of the American destroyers operating in European waters are talking about a grim piece of Hun humor. Nearly every night the commander of one of the destroyers receives by wireless a message reading:--
     “My position is (so many) degrees north and (so many) degrees west. Come and get me. I’m waiting for you.” The message is always signed Hans Rose.
     Rose is the German who took a submarine into Newport[, Rhode Island] two years go, welcomed society aboard his craft and then went out and sank several steamships almost within shooting distance of Nantucket. According to the story passed around by the men engaged in the thrilling and hazardous task of seeking submarines, the captain to whom is directed the nightly messages of the German subsea craft sank two. The commanders of both were intimate friends of Rose. He has sworn vengeance. Not only does he send his taunting message to the man he has never seen, but he goads him further by flashing a message defining the position of the destroyer.

     It is disquieting for the American commander, but he has no fears. Twice, it is stated, he has swiftly guided his craft to the location described by his enemy, but he found nothing and has seen nothing. Still the mysterious wireless despatch comes every night, no matter where the destroyer may be. Others catch it, and thus the weird story is told wherever the hornets of the sea are seen.
Hans Rose, U-Boat commander

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