Copyright for the following document is owned by Esther Blonder. Permission is granted to reproduce it freely for personal use or for historical study, but not for commercial use. Fred Blonder
 

STATEMENT OF CHARLES H. BLONDER ON HIS EXPERIENCES ON THE S.S. WASHINGTON, JUNE 11, 1940

   On June 11, 1940 I was on board the S. S. Washington as a violinist the orchestra and this is my experience during the emergency that existed when we were stopped by a submarine at about 5:00 A.M. At twenty minutes past five, I was awakened by our orchestra leader and told not to get excited-that a submarine had given us ten minutes to abandon ship prior to torpedoing the vessel. I dressed quickly and went to my emergency station wearing a life belt. Everyone was gathering there and though all were told about the emergency, there was surprisingly little panic. I noticed only one woman fainting, another with a dazed, frightened expression, and a few children crying. In the meantime, all life boats were made ready and, as soon as that had been done, directions were given over loudspeakers for all to go to their boats. Many of the boats were quite full and I waited on deck near my boat station.  Dawn was just about breaking then and I went to the other side of the ship to see the submarine. I could not distinguish it well as it was quite a distance away, and could only see the light flashing signals.

   By this time the Washington had drifted some distance from it.  I went back to my boat waiting for instructions. Shortly after, it was announced on the speakers that all was ready and that, should the vessel be torpedoed, we had ample time to leave since we could not sink quickly with all watertight compartments sealed. In consideration of this fact and that no submarine is built with enough speed to catch such a boat as the Washington, now that it had drifted so far from the submarine, it had been decided to make a run for it. With only the stern of the ship as a target, it was a particularly good chance to take. We headed away full speed and continued so for about one hour until we sighted another submarine clear out of the water and in our path. The ship made a quick turn and headed east into the sun, so making a blinding target for this new sub. This second one I had a good view of and am quite sure it was Italian. Its color was exactly like the ones I have seen in Naples. a slate color and to my knowledge, no other country uses that for their subs.

   At about seven-thirty, it was considered safe and, after the ship had taken her course to Galway, Ireland, everyone was dismissed from the life boats. Later, knowing the watchman who signaled to the sub (he is an old naval signal man), I asked him to tell me about the first meeting with the submarine. He told me that when the submarine first halted the ship she ordered her to be abandoned in 30 minutes. The captain was immediately awakened and, when he heard the order, he was dumbfounded. He ordered the signal man to tell them this was an American ship (which they must easily have known by all the flags painted on the ship's sides, all floodlighted brightly). Messages were exchanged and at twenty minutes past five, the order was given for 10 minutes to abandon ship. That was when the sirens and fire bells were sounded, watertight doors were closed, and all were awakened and told of the emergency. The captain all this time had stood with his watch in hand following the3 time and the drift of the ship and, when he saw opportunity to run for it, cleverly put it to use. It must have been a harrowing ordeal for Captain Manning, as he actually turned gray overnight. For some reason, the details of this occurrence were kept quiet as possible. The notice posted on the bulletin board and the telegram sent to Captain Manning by the president of United States Lines, quoted below, were both somewhat noncommittal, as were the newspaper accounts. Nor was it possible to send any radiograms until the ship was only a day out of New York. Notice on Bulletin Board The following is a brief account of what occurred this morning. Owing to the fact that we encountered a submarine and that it acted in a suspicious manner, it was decided to prepare for any eventuality. After a series of messages was exchanged between the ship and the submarine, we proceeded on our voyage. The identity or nationality of the submarine was not known. At 7:15 this morning after were under way, another submarine was sighted, and we proceeded in a course away from it without being signaled to.

   The commander takes this opportunity of thanking the passengers and members of the crew for the co-operation given him during the emergency, and was pleased to note that there was no excitement or panic shown. Copy of Telegram  June 11, 1940  Captain Manning S. S. Washington  State Department requested me advise you they have notified all belligerent nations your vessel on present course and schedule voyage operating without convoy. Therefore to deviate would be unwise and possibly prejudicial to safe conduct.

(Signed) Franklin Pres. U. S. Lines.