'EAGLE UNDER THE SEA'

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 168, 3 June 1940, Page 6

'EAGLE UNDER THE SEA'

HOW A POLISH SUBMARINE ESCAPED In September last year the war drums rolled out over Europe for the second lime in a-quarter of r. century. Poland once more trembled under heavy guns and marching feet. In those early days, many strange adventures happened, but none more dramatic than the escape and remarkable journey of the Polish ' submarine "Orzel," The story begins shortly after the outbreak of Avar, in Tallinn, the neutral port of Estonia. There is a bustle of business on the waterfront, and the harbour is nearly fulL Then a German vessel sails. Shortly afterwards fresh excitement is caused by the appearance of a strange vessel coming through the entrance. It turns out to be the Polish submarine "Orzel." A lieutenant aboard her discovers an Es--tonian friend, and in the course of conversation between the two it is "disclosed that the submarine is slightly damaged, and in need of repairs. The commander, however, is anxious to get away. Suddenly a new arrival on board causes some consternation; it is the officer of the Port Authority, who declares, citing International Law. that as a German vessel has recently quitted Tallinn, the 'Orzel" must wait for twenty-four hours.. In twenty-four hours' time, just as the submarine, now repaired, is about to sailj the officer of the Port appears again, this time with an order of internment: tifc vessel must be relieved of torpedoes, small arms and ammunition. The work of disarming her begins, but mean- J while the Commander has decided on a daring plan of escape. Desperate as the attempt appears—for the charts and all except six torpedoes have already been taken —the submarine's company receives the idea with enthusiasm. The watchful Port Officer is kidnapped and taken below, and at midnight, the Polish eagle sails slowly out. occasionally picked out by searchlights, and begins an arduous journey. Days of Anxiety. There follow many days of anxiety; the Commander is determined to make good the escape of his submarine, which had been bought by public subscription among hundreds of his countrymen. The "Orzel" has to spend hours submerged while German destroyers search and drop depth charges. On the 28th day. near the Kattegat, they are almost caught by destroyers, but their luck holds, and they slip through a narrow channel into the Uorth Sea. There are some anxious clays, during which they wait in vain for a wireless reply from England to their messages. The water supply is almost exhausted, and food is now something to dream about. But suddenly, when the men are beginning to wonder if after all the hardships they have passed through, the3 r will live to tell the tale, the long-awaited message from the English comes crackling in—"We will await you in the following position." The rendezvous is kept, thank? to brilliant seamanship on the par! of the Polish Commander. "Orzel" in the Polish word for ■"Eagle." .