SEA ADVENTURE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 224, 20 September 1940, Page 4

SEA ADVENTURE.

ATTACK AND PIRACY. LADY WILFORD'S ORDEAL. Like a tale from the, pen of some imaginative spy-adventure writer was the story told by Lady Wilford, widow of Sir Thomas Wilford, a former High Comiuic&ioner for New Zealand in London, on her arrival in Auckland from abroad. She had to leave the south of France at 12 hours' notice to escape the Gorman invasion, was a passenger on a little collier which enemy agents first tried to sink by calling the attention of a submarine, and then attempted to seize by piracy—and finally was conveyed to England on a troopship. On June 17 Lady Wilford, with other British subjects, was advised by the British consul at Cannes to leave immediately, and with 700 other evacuees left for Gibraltar in a small collier. . Tlie. collier developed engine trouble and had to put into Port Vendres, thus losing the convoy. After leaving there the real adventure, began. Six Fifth Columnists had managed tti conceal themselves on board and, by torch signals, these enemy agents attracted the attention of an enemy submarine, which attacked the vessel with torpedoes and shells. The skill of the captain enaitled them to dodge the torpedoee, and when the ship's gun was manned the submarine dived and was seen no more.

After that the eix enemy agente, disclosed by their treachery, made a desperate, attempt to seize the vessel. They were overpowered, however, and placed in irons. During these exciting hours Lady Wilford, with other women passengers, wae in the aft hold of the ship. On arrival at Gibraltar the. passengers transferred to a troopship, which carried its 1400 civilian and 450 soldier passengere safelv to England. Lady Wilford left last night for Wellington by the Limited express.