Shipped Out

For several days already the rumor goes around that the Second and the Commander are to take over a new boat. But so far that's all it was, a rumor. Now suddenly the order for the crew of the XVer to fall into formation. The Commander informs us that he will have to leave and that he will take a few men with him. He asks for volunteers. Well! The whole crew stepped forward without exception. Every last man wanted to go with him. This made him very happy but he could not leave the XVer without a crew. He said he will think about it. "It's a shame," said the Torpedo-master, "now we will be ripped apart after we understand and know each other so well."

A few days later we are packing our bags. The Commander and the Second are taking over a new boat and are only allowed to take seven of us. The Second Torpedo-master, The Engine-master, an Engine-mate, two Torpedo-instructors, the Telegraph-master, one Electro-mate…and me. The farewell from our comrades was really hard but also intense. Especially Stefan just could not believe that we could now be separated after being together from the beginning of the war. We really go along very well together. On the night before shipping out we all celebrated once more the sailor's way when everyone was cheerful. But on the following morning you could not see too many happy faces.

During the day the bags were taken to Zelenika to the railway station. The evening train made its way to Pola with us. I attended the two officers to Grag and then reported to the submarine station at Brioni. There were already several new submarines in service at Pola. They were bigger and faster but otherwise looked very much like our old XVer. From there we promptly went on furlough.

As I returned from furlough I was very much worried about what I had seen in my homeland. If this continues there won't be much of a chance winning the war. Hunger and nothing but food rationing cards with which, after standing in line all day you might get some substitutes. They would take the last shovel away from the small farmer and like to give him bread coupons too and make him stand in line. But the big shots not only are exempt from all that, they are treated with kid gloves. It is always the same. The poorer you are the more you have to pay.

The German Kaiser has made a Peace offer and folks are hoping that they will be able to end the war. But it will not work. The conditions won't be accepted and consequently no peace. They have to get some more beatings. We are glad when we are back in service again. We don't fit in with the people at home anymore. The poor devils say to us we should stop fighting where we are. And those with businesses that make profits, they complain too but do not really mean it. They are happy that the war goes on. And we? We are still willing to offer all for our country and hope that it won't let us down.

Now we are back at the submarine station at Brioni again. They have well organized training for young submariners here. We didn't have it this easy and had to do most of our schooling on our own. The new men are very ambitious and inquisitive. At every opportunity they keep asking us how it is out there. But we mostly tell them that they will soon find out for themselves. If one of us is in an especially good mood then he would tell them about some happenings while on action. They would be all ears and wouldn't get tired of listening even if it took all night. That they sometimes swell up a little is not surprising. They'll have to wait for the hands-on experience to get to know it. After New Years the crew for the UBXXX was put together. Three officers and 26 men. Later the whole crew moved to Fiume.