THE SINKING OF THE OTAKI

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 167, 9 April 1919, Page 6

THE SINKING OF THE OTAKI

A SURVIVOR'S STORY. "" " By Telegraph—Press Association Auckland, April S. Among the officers of tho Westmoreland, which' brought tho Pioneers .lack home; is Mr. R. M'Nish., who was chief officer of the Now Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Otaki when that vessel was sunk by tho raider Mocwo on March 10, 1917. Mr. M'Nish tells a thrilling story of the fight, and says (ha Otaki's gunners put up some good shoot, ing, but had no chance with tho heavilyarmed German vessel. Mr. M'Nish, tba carpenter, and tho captain were tho .last on the Otaki, and tho captain went down, with his ship. Mr. M'Nish and tho carpenter took to tho water. "Three-quar-ters of an hour afterwards," lio said, ' we wero picked up by tho Moewe, where- an attempt bv prisoners from other ships to mutiny when we fought the raider had "been quelled, and wo found her to he in a pretty bad condition. She had Icon sit by seven shells, and was badly on fire. It took thirty-six hours'to extinguish tho flames. We wero given shocking acconi. modation while wo were on tho way tn Kiel, and after arrival at that port. I spent my term of captivity at six different camps, being released in December of last year."