Content note: Repeats First World War atrocity stories, including invented ones, and their wording. This object is shown as it was published. Why
A MONSTROUS Story of fiendish cruelty on the part of a German U-boat commander was circulated in the Press in July 1918. It is an instance of how people in positions of semi-official authority were either ready deliberately to invent or to elaborate some vague rumour and give it the stamp of authentic information.
It appeared in more or less the same form in all the newspapers :
Staff-Paymaster Collingwood Hughes, R.N.V.R., of the Naval Intelligence Division of the Admiralty, lecturing yesterday at the Royal Qub, St. James’s Square, said that one of our patrol boats in the Atlantic found a derelict U-boat. After rescuing the crew our commander inquired of the Hun captain if all were safely aboard, as it was intended to blow up the U-boat.
“ Yes,” came the reply, “ they are here. Call the roll.” Every German answered. The British commander was about to push off before dropping a depth charge, when tapping was heard.
“ Are you quite sure there is no one on board your boat ? ” he repeated.
“ Yes,” declared the Hun captain.
But the tapping continued, and the British officer ordered a search of the U-boat. There were found in it, tied up as prisoners, four British seamen. The rescued Germans were going to allow their prisoners to be drowned.
“ Daily Mail” July 12, 1918.
The story was repeated by Commander Sir Edward Nicholl at a public meeting at Colston Hall, in Bristol, at which the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty was present.
Colonel Wedgwood asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether one of our patrol boats recently rescued the crew of a derelict U-boat, the captain of which deliberately left on board four British seamen, who would have been drowned if they had not been heard knocking and been rescued; and if this is so, what steps have been taken to deal with the captain of the U-boat.
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (Dr. Macnamara): The Admiralty have officially stated in the public Press that they have no knowledge of this reported incident and that the statement was made without their authority.
Colonel Wedgwood : Are we to understand that this statement is absolutely without any basis of fact and is, in fact, a lie ?
Dr. Macnamara : We have stated that we have no information in confirmation of the statement which was made.
House of Commons, July 15, 1918.
In reply to subsequent questions Dr. Macnamara stated he was getting into communication with the officer responsible for the statement.
Colonel Wedgwood asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the story about the derelict U-boat has yet been reported on, and, if so, what conclusion has been come to; and whether the story was first told by a naval officer at a meeting at the Colston Hall about five weeks ago, at which the Parliamentary Secretary himself was present.
Dr. Macnamara : We have endeavoured to trace this story to its origin. Fleet-Paymaster Collingwood Hughes appears to have heard it from more than one source. He should certainly have taken the opportunity afforded him in his official position to verify it. In our opinion the story is without foundation. As regards the second part of the ii8 FALSEHOOD IN WAR-TIME question. Commander Sir Edward Nicholl, Royal Naval Reserve, certainly told the story in the course of a speech at a meeting at Bristol, at which I was present. I learn from him that he was present at an earlier meeting addressed by Mr. Collingwood Hughes in South Wales and heard the story recited by him on that occasion.
House of Commons, Ju/y 23, 1918.
But, of course, in this, as in other cases, for one person who noticed the denial there were a thousand who only heard the lie.
Falsehood in War-Time, Arthur Ponsonby. Published in the United Kingdom in 1928, more than 95 years ago, so in the public domain in the United States. Ponsonby died in 1946, so the text is also in the public domain in countries that count the author's life plus 70 years. Provenance and rights.