STRANGER THAN FICTION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 191, 2 May 1918, Page 4

STRANGER THAN FICTION

STORY OP SANDERS, V.C.

When the cablegram was published highly eulogising the bravery-of the late Lieutenant-Commander "W. B. Sanders, V.C. (whose parents reside at Takapuna), many wondered what particular daring deed had earned such high encomiums. Tho following story, which appears in the Sydney "Bulletin" of April 23.- relates what is stated to be an -official story, only the name of Saunders is used instead of Sanders:— "Saunders, a naval officer, was out in tho North Sea or somewhero looking for Hunmarines, and didn't notice the one which torpedoed the craft ho was on. He was thrown into the sea by tho explosion, and while swimming round discovered ho was the only survivor han'dy, and that he had touched a lock. Next thing he found was that it wasn't a rook, and ho was astride the implement that had blown him up. It had coino from below to see what had taken place. Saunders pulled his revolver from its waterproof casing and crawled over towards the hatchway. Presently the narrow lid was lifted, and a figure in oilskins started to emerge. Saunders shot tho figure dead. As the body pitched forward, half on deck and the other half dangling downstairs, he banged tho lid on it, and held it that way. Tho result of this manoeuvre was that tho Huns below could not submerge the vessel without certainty of boin" flooded, because tho lid was -up. They could not pull the dead man in because he was a fixture. Tliey could not climb up the ladder and give battle to tho enemy, beoause their dead shipmate blocked the orifico in advance, and anyway they did not know whether the enemy up above was a new brand of 6ca serpent or a regiment of amphibious cavalry. Meanwhile tho freezing Saunders sat on the ex-Hun waiting for what was going to happen next. Eventually it was a patrolling destroyer. Tho prize was towed into port. 0