The Evening News
LONDON: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1939

U-BOAT IN IRISH PORT: R.A.F. HUNT
Submarine Lands Torpedoed Ship's Crew And Escapes

'HIDE AND SEEK' WITH BRITISH PLANES
Ship's Captain Thinks Warships Joined in Atlantic Chase
36 HOURS OF DODGING

Cruising boldly into a lonely part of Dingle, Co. Kerry harbour, early to-day, the German submarine U35 landed 28 of the crew of the Greek ship Diamantis, which she had sunk several days ago.
Irish Civic Guards patrolling the coast saw the daring manoeuvre, but by the time they could run to the scene of the landing the small boat was back and the submarine ran out of harbour before their eyes.
So the U35 ended a feat which included a 36-hour chase in which British planes and warships are believed to have joined.

It was from the Guard Barracks at Dingle to-day that Captain Panagos gave me his account of the adventure (writes an Evening News representative). He and most of his crew are being sheltered there until to-night, when they are going to Dublin.
Six are still in Dingle hospital but are suffering only from shock and exhaustion, and will be able to travel with the rest.
"Heavy seas were running about 60 miles south-west of Land's End when suddenly the U-boat surfaced nearby and signalled to us to stop," said Captain Panagos. "I observed. I knew what to expect if I did not.
SPOKE ENGLISH
"We launched a boat and with great difficulty I managed to get aboard the U-boat with my papers.
"The commander, speaking in excellent English, told me that he would have to sink my ship and that my crew would have to take to the boats. My crew observed, but in the heavy seas the lifeboats could not live.
"At last to our relief the U-boat commander took all the crew aboard and we were all ordered below as the U35 prepared to sink the Diamantis.
"We were not allowed to see anything, but from below we heard three tremendous reports as three torpedoes were fired at our ship; later the commander told me that she had sunk within a few minutes.
PLANES TOO LATE
"We had lost everything; all our money and papers had gone.
"Then we heard orders being suddenly given. We felt a queer sensation as the submarine dived.
"Later the commander told me that he had been forced to dive to get out of the way of British planes which had appeared in the distance.
"We remained submerged for three hours or more before returning to the surface; we were kept under guard but treated very kindly.
"All the time we got the impression that a great game of hide-and-seek was being played between the submarine and British planes and warships.
"We were constantly submerging and appearing on the surface for brief intervals.
"During the 36 hours we were on the submarine we had our meals as regularly as the crew, and they were quite good meals. We were also given some German cigarettes.
"Then the commander said that we were off the coast of Ireland and that he proposed to land us.
"We cruised to within about 60 yards of the shore and members of the German crew then rowed us ashore in a collapsible boat.
"GOODBYE"
"As I left the U-boat the commander shook hands with me and said 'Goodbye, good luck.' When we had all been landed he stood in the conning tower and waved goodbye as the submarine put to sea again."
The escape was carried out in full view of about 30 people who gave the alarm to the patrolling civic guards.
The Diamantis, as ship of 4,990 tons, was found for Barrow-in-Furness when she met the U-35.
Sir Roger Casement's exploit in landing from a German submarine in April, 1916, took place at Tralee Bay, only about 30 miles round the coast from Dingle.

U-Boat Lands Sunken Ship's Crew in Eire
THEY WERE ABOARD FOR 36 HOURS

WATCHED BY CIVIC GUARDS WHO WERE POWERLESS TO DO ANYTHING A GERMAN SUBMARINE APPEARED CLOSE TO THE SHORE ON A LONELY PART OF THE EIRE COAST, LANDED THE 28 SURVIVORS OF A GREEK STEAMER IT HAD SUNK, MADE OFF AND SUBMERGED.
The affair took place at Ventry, near Dingle, County Kerry, near the spot where Sir Roger Casement, the Irish Nationalist, was landed from a German submarine in April 1916.
The survivors of the Greek vessel, the steamer Diamantis (4990 tons), were put off in a collapsible boat belonging to the submarine.
Six of them needed medical attention, as they were suffering from slight wounds, and were taken to the hospital.
One of the survivors told the Civic Guard that after their vessel had been sunk off Land's End while on their way to Belfast they were picked up by the submarine.
They were aboard for 36 hours until the U-boat came off the Eire coast, where it cruised along for some time seeking a deserted part to land its passengers.
Shortly before 6 p.m. the commander surfaced and the submarine drew closer inshore. The conning tower was opened and the seamen got into the boat and rowed for shore.
Good View of It
Mr. Rooney, a Customs officer was the first to see the U-boat. It was lying some little distance from the shore.
The region selected for the landing is desolate. Although it is patrolled night and day by Civic Guards and Customs officers Mr. Rooney happened to be the only official in the immediate neighborhood when the vessel drew in to the coast.
The only evidence then of the manoeuvre of the U-boat commander was a stretch of frothy sea where the submarine had disappeared and a group of bewildered foreign seamen on the shore.

U-BOAT LANDS SHIP'S CREW IN EIRE

Watched by civic guards, who were powerless to do anything, a German submarine appeared close to the shore on a lonely part of the Eire coast during the night, landed the survivors of a Greek steamer it had sunk, and then made off and submerged.
The dramatic incident took place at Ventry, near Dingle, Co. Kerry, close to the spot where Sir Roger Casement, the Irish Nationalist, was landed from a German submarine during the Great War.
The survivors of the Greek vessel, believed to be the steamer Diamantis (4990 tons), were put off in a collapsible boat belonging to the submarine.
Six of the 28 needed medical attention, as they were suffering from wounds.
They were taken to Dingle Hospital, but none was seriously injured.
Their comrades were cared for at private homes in Dingle.
"TREATED WITH COURTESY"
One of the survivors told the Civic Guard that their vessel had been sunk off Land's End while on their way to Belfast.
They were picked up by the submarine and were treated with every courtesy.
They were aboard for 36 hours until the U-boat came off the Eire coast, where it cruised along for some time seeking a deserted part to land its passengers.
The commander surfaced and the submarine drew closer inshore. The conning tower was opened, and the seamen, after bidding their goodbyes, got in a collapsible boat, which was put at their disposal, and made for the shore.
Another member of the crew said that when the German submarine came to the surface, the commander warned them that he was about to sink their ship.
SEA WAS TOO ROUGH
They took to the boats, but owing to the rough weather the boats were found to be unsafe.
The submarine commander then invited them to go aboard his vessel.
The submarine then attack the ship which sank in half an hour.
Civic guards, patrolling the coast, saw the submarine on the surface and rushed to the spot, but they were too late to detain it.
While they were still some distance away the submarine moved off and submerged.
SEEN BY A CUSTOMS OFFICER
Mr. Rooney, a Customs officer, who was on patrol, was the first to see the U-boat.
It was lying some little distance from the shore and he had a good view of it before it disappeared.
The region selected for the landing is very desolate, and although it is patrolled night and day by civic guards and customs officers Mr. Rooney happened to be the only official in the immediate neighborhood when the vessel drew into the coast.
Civic guards saw the vessel from a distance but they got to the scene after it had moved off.
The only evidence then of the daring manoeuvre of the U-boat commander was a stretch of frothy sea, where the submarine had disappeared, and a group of bewildered foreign seamen on the shore.