EXPLOIT OF A MYSTERY SHIP

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 162, 3 April 1919, Page 6

EXPLOIT OF A MYSTERY SHIP

LIEUTENANT SANDEKS'S VESSEL.

By TeleEranh-Pre6s Association, Auckland, April 2. Mr. Wcstraorc, chief officer of tho Cufic, now in pott, is a brother of LieutenantCommander Westmore, who wai in command of the mystery ship whose exploit niado Lieutenant-Commander W. B. Sanders, V.C., famous. He states that the crew of the mystery ship were all volunteers Sanders then was second in. command. At G a.m. they heard firing in tho distance, and altered their course Presently they sighted two German submarines near a steamer carrying stores to Salonika. The steamer Tiaving been torpedoed, the crow- had taken to the boats. When the mystery schooner was close enough, the commander of the nearest submarine ordered her to stop. Inetead, tho schooner lowered a boat, containing about six men. who pulled as though they had abandoned, the ship. Commander Westmore, Lieutenant Sanders, and eonifi gunners lay on t'he schooner, and when she drifted within eighty ynrde of the submarine, she broke the 'White Ensign and fired her four gur.s at point-blank range. The submarine was practically blown lo pieces, and sank instantly. The second submarine attempted to attack the schooner, but received a second salvo from lw gnns at 800 yards. The enemy craft disappeared below the surface, and mis not seen again. The steamer was not vitally damaged, and her crew returned to' board, and took her to port with the schooner in tow. Commander Westmore received the D.5.0., and the chief gunner was also decorated. Lieutenant ganders was decorated, and given command of (he mysteT ship, on which he eventually °-ainwl his V.C.