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VIA GHENT AND BRUGES TO OSTEND 269
the appalling noise which denoted each hit. A deafening
crash resounded through the entire hull when the projectile
struck its sides. The hre soon spread. Presently it became
impossible to serve the guns. In the end the flames reached
the parts of the ship where the ammunition was stored. Now
began a terrible crackling and hissing as one projectile after
the other exploded and shells and splinters poured out in every
direction. Another " Dreadnought " dived through the fog,
but did not take part in the light, uneven enough already.
The A riadnes commander and Bess were on the bridge, the
plating of which was perforated from beneath by the exploding
ammunition. The heat was unbearable, everything was
wreathed in smoke, the deafening detonations followed closer
and closer and the final catastrophe was clearly approaching.
When the crew saw that the end might come at any moment
they broke into a rousing cheer for the Emperor and another
for the Ariadne’s commander. Then they sang the
" Stolz weht die Flagge schwarz-weiss-rot
An unsres Schiifes Mast
Dem Feinde weh, der sie bedroht,
Der diese Farben hasst !
Sie flattert an dem Heimatstrand
Im winde bin und her,
Und fern vom teuren Vaterland
Auf sturmbewegtem Meer.
Ihr wolln wir treu ergeben sein,
Getreu bis in den Tod,
Ihr wolln wir unser Leben weihn.
Der Flagge schwarz-weiss-rot. Hurra !
" *
But salvation was near at hand. The two cruisers Danzig
and Stralsund showed up through the mist. The crew
jumped overboard from the red-hot, burning ship. The
^ Black, white and red our noble flag
Up at our masthead flies
—
Woe to the foe who scorns that flag.
This ensign who defies !
It gaily flutters in the breeze
Upon our native strand
And out on many storm-tossed seas
Far from our fatherland.
Beneath it firm and true we’ll stand,
Our blood we’ll gladly shed,
And to our last breath will defend
The black and white and red 1
Hurrah !
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