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268 WITH THE GERMAN ARMIES IN THE WEST
loss of the considerable British capital supposed to be invested
in the town.
I had been invited to regard myself as a member of the
German naval officers’ mess for dinner and supper at the Hotel
Littoral. When therefore we assembled at eight o’clock in the
restaurant for the first time, I made the acquaintance of them
all. Among my special friends, apart from the chief, were
Captain-Lieutenant Bess, Lieutenant Haak, Staff-Surgeon
Schönfelder and Doctor Kiibler. We kept together during the
next few days and went through many experiences which we
shall never forget.
Whilst we were sitting at table a report was handed in that
light signals had been made from a church tower, clearly
addressed to the British warships. The instructions issued to
deal with this matter ordered a very thorough investigation of
the circumstances. The day’s bombardment from the British
ships had done no damage beyond killing a few horses. Apart
from this the shells had found an " empty billet."
We sat up late talking, and Captain Bess told us about
the sinking of the old " tin box" Ariadne, a cruiser of 3000
tons, by the British on August 28th. Bess was navigating
officer on board and he assured me that it takes some time
before one’s nerves recover their equilibrium after the shock
of such an experience. The Ariadne had been doing patrol
duty in Jade Bight when in the morning of August 28th she
was ordered to scour the sea north-west of Heligoland. The
weather was misty and it was impossible to see far ahead.
Suddenly a huge grey hulk loomed up through the fog. It was
a British "Dreadnought," and her heavy guns at once began
to play. The first " coal box " flew right over the Ariadne, so
close that several of the crew were flung against the deck by
the air pressure. After that the shells kept raining over the
doomed little cruiser, which immediately headed for the Jade
Bight, her guns returning the fire as best she could. One shot
after the other struck the Ariadne. After a while her stern
was on fire and there was no possibility of bringing the powder
magazine under water so as to avert a catastrophe. The fore
part of the ship also caught fire, but not in the bows, where
the wounded had been taken and where it was still possible to
make one’s way. Next the steering apparatus was hit and the
ship seemed to want to make for the British vessel, but some-
how or other it was put right again. Words cannot describe
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