ECHO OF THE PIRATE WAR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 121, 15 February 1919, Page 10

ECHO OF THE PIRATE WAR

PLUCKY EIGHT BY C. AND D. LINER. As a reward for the splendid fight he put up against a. German submarino in October, 1917, whilst commanding tho Commonwealth and Dominion liner Port Curtis, Captain William S. Mason was invested with tho Distinguished Servico .Cross at Buckingham Palace in January, 1918. During tho fight Captain Mason was severely wounded, and on recovering later was given the command of the Port -Lincoln, which is duo here on Sunday next. Writing from England last year to a friend, Captain Mason stated that his vessel, tho Port Curtis, was attacked off tho coast of France by a submarine at 3.30 o'clock in tho morning. At the timo. the Port Curtis was engaged in transport work, and tho submarine oould not bo seen, but subjected tho steamer lo a heavy fire. It was not till an hour later that tho submarine.was discovered, and throughout that hour the Huns got in somo very good shooting. Tho gun ,011 the Port. Curtis was outranged by tho submarine's guns, and was unable to produce any effect 011 the Huns. Captain. Mason then got a smoke Hereon going, and this was very effective whilst it lasted, completely hiding the ship. Unfortunately the.stock of smoke screen material was soon exhausted, and the submarino then got in some vital shots, smashing the bridge and carrying away the steering gear. Most. of the ship s boats by this t.imo had been smashed, and at lj a.m. Captain Mason decided that' it was useless to continue tho fight any longer, as tho submarino was outmanoeuvring his vessel in cvory way. He therefore signalled "Surrender," and ordered the -remaining boats to bo launched. Tho sea, fortunately, was calm, and the crow, including himself, got safely away before tho vessel was disposed of by the Huns. Although Captain Mason sustained a wound in tho thigh and most of the crew woro wounded, they worked the boats throughout that day and night, and after traversing roughly 50 miles landed 011 tin; French coast tho following morning. During tho night it rained heavily, and the crew worked in their boats ivjithont any covering 011 their wounds. On landing in Franco they were removed to a French hostel, where they had their wounds cared for. Captain Mason was immediately operated 011 to hnvo pieces of shrapnel removed from his legs and arms. _ He was two months in hospital, but is' now quito fit and well again. Tho Port Lincoln is due to sail for Brisbane on October 20.