EXCITING INCIDENT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1116, 2 May 1911, Page 6

EXCITING INCIDENT.

tH> OVERBOARD FROM A SUBMARINE. An exciting incident marked the trip from Aden to Colombo of H.M.S. Edgar and submarine "C 38," which she was towing with a length of about 250 yards of. line. Lieutenant Codrington, in command of the submarine, was sitting on the edge of the deck in bathing costume one day, when the vessel gave a sudden lurch, and the lieutenant fell into the writer. The vessels .were travelling at a full 12 knots, and before it was realised what had happened the lieutenant was in the water a hundred yards or so behind. Hasty signals were mado to the Edgar by those on board the submarine, and a boat was promptly lowered and cent back, the submarine's crew having thoughtfully thrown a box or two overboard to guide the. boat in making a search for tho lieutenant. Lieutenant Codrington was in tho water about a quarter of an hour before he w-as picked up and taken on board. His recovery to, happily, very prompt, and he was able to appreciate the hidden humour conveyed in the mvsterious signal from the c.iptain of the Edgar which followed the incident.- The message contained a "reprimand" for Sir. Codrington for having committed tho offence of "breaking ship," while tho signal concluded with the words, "Officers and inen ave not to take leave without first asking permission of the captain." Lieutenant Codrington's reply signal was. "Regret having broken shin. Plead extenuating circumstances, and throw myself on the mercy of tho Court." The humorous episode caused no end of amusement on board tho vessels. The "joke" was communicated to H.M.S. TTifrhflver, then in the vicinity,, those on iboard'the Edgar thinking it much too good to keen to themselves. The Edgar arrived at Sydney with relief crews for the squadron. Silo dropped the submarine, which was proceeding to China, at Singapore—Sydney "Telegraph."