HEROISM OF BRITISH SEAMEN

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 175, 19 April 1919, Page 9

HEROISM OF BRITISH SEAMEN

THE LOSS OF H.M.S. HOSTE A STIRRING REVELATION Many gallant actions and stirring deeds of daring performed under stress of battlo and in face of the enemy have been reToaled since hostilities ceased, and otliors of a lilco character will doubtless ba brought to light as time goes on (says tho London "Times"). But the curtain has not. so often been .raised to display the exploits of our seainejL in circumstances ot' peril, and their liflroism under renditions perhaps more trying even than those of confliot with the enemy. An instance of cool, calm courage and self-con-trol when faced with almost certain death, and mi exhibition of superb selfconfidence and marvellous seamanship, was afforded when two destroyers, tho Hoste and the Negro, were sunk after collision in tho' North Sea early in tho war. On December 26, 1910, tho Secretary ol tho Admiralty made the following announcement:— Two of H.M. torpedo-boat destroyers were sunk in collision in the North Sea on December 21 during very bad weatlwr, resulting in tho loss of six officers and 51 men, tho relatives of whom have all been notified. The facts which lay-behind this '>old statement were these: On the night, of ■Thursday, December 21, 1916, the Grand Fleet, was returning to its northern base from one of the periodical sweeps which formed its'tireless duty in the North Sea. -The great assemblage of vessels, spread over a largo area, was steaming, as usual, without navigation lights 1 n<l nt a good pace, although faced by a hoivling gale—suc'h a gale, indeed, as had not been experienced in those-waters for many years. In advance,, of the battle squadrons was a patrolling force of destroyers, of which the leading vessel was the Hoste, Commander Ct. L. Edwards, R.N. she Hoste was a fine new vessel of tho leader type, and next astern of her in the flotilla was the Negro, : another new destroyer. It was a pitch-dark night, without a star visible, and to the vessels following one nnother in the flotilla the only indication given of the next ahead was the track oJ white water in. the wake where the propellers were at work. Such guidance was 6light at any time, and it was extraordinary how, under these conditions, _ exact stations were and mish.xps seldom ocourred. On this occasion the difficulty was increased by the heavy sea running and the snowy froth which cappe.: every-breaking wave. Collision in the Darkness. Suddenlv there was a crash and a rending crunch, followed by a series of violent detonations, while.loud shouts arose out of the darkness. Even the howling storm could not muffle the sound of those exploding charges or the sharp, grating sounds which accompanied the tearing to pieces of the tern of the Hoste, The Negro hud run into her consort, and had struck. her in the afterpart just where the depth charges were stowed ready for vie- The rails and adjacent parts were knocked away, and with thorn the fastenings of the antiBubmarine bombs, which burst as ( they fell to their appointed depth, and added to the damage already done lo both vessels by the collision.

The"hull of the'smaller'destroyer was fo badly shattered that she sank immediately, with almost all on board. Only one officer and a few men were saved from her crow. No boat could live in the sea running at the time,-and few human beings could stand the shock of sudden immersion in such ice-cold water. The survivors were those} fortunate enough to seize ropes flung to them from the destroyers that came rushing to the rescue, illuminating the> waters with their searchlights and bringing such succour as might be to the victims of the disaster. On board tho Hoste' there was need for the greatest' courage and fortitude, for prompt examination revealed that her injuries were such as to leave but little chance of getting lier safely into port. The after-part of the vessel was' torn away, and she was making water rapidly, but. as her engines were still working, her captain decided to make an effort to roach a harbour. For that purpose lie put her broadside on to the set of the'seas, so that she might be kept water-borne for her whole length, and, while making slow progress in the Tight direction, endeavours were made to shore lip, at least.temporarily, the .bulkheads, and prevent their crushing in. •The collision occurred about 1.30 a.m.. and, although the destroyer's back was fractured by the explosion, she was kept afloat until 4 o'clock in the morning, when the strain became too great, a portion of the hull broke off, tho engineroom flooded, and at once it was evident that her fate was sealed.

What remained of the doomed vessel might now founder at any moment. AH hands were lined up on the fore-part, where they took their stations as ordered by the officers, and were numbered off in batches, in view of tho possibility of some attempt being made to save them. Their only hope rested in the desperate chance ox reaching one of the other vessels of the flotilla in company, should she approach near enough xor. them to jump on board. In a few words the captain reminded the crew of what was expected of them as British seamen, and told them to await the word of command, which would be given when the supreme moment arrived. Barely able to stand as the deck reeled Tinder them and spray swept as the de-

stroyer rolled to the rushing' seas and the fury of tho gale, each man prepared steadily to face the death that seemed inevitable. Even with their belts 011 there appeared little prospect of anyone surviving the plunge into those seething waters, A Destroyer to the Rescue. Then through tho wrack aud driven spume of the storm-tossed seas a blurred object loomed up, and presently, as it came nearer, revealed itself as another destroyer, and from her movements the intention of her commander was divined. It was quite impossible to place' the vessels alongside, for as both were rolling from 50 to 80 degrees even momentary contact could not bo attempted without risk of imminent destruction. But tho British seaman is prepared to'take risks v.ien the circumstances demand them, and the captain of the approaching vessel was manifestly of opinion that the uresent circumstances were of that kind. Handling his vessel with admirable skill, ho watched his opportunity, and at n suitable moment brought her for a few seconds into, close proximity with tho forecastle uf the Hosto. Then, at the given order, the first latch of men jumped, while such was the superb discipline that not 0110 of ■ the remainder moved from his place. Fifteen times was this almost incredible manoeuvre repeated, tho rescuing vessel being brought hack into position, until within forty minutes the whole of the officers aiul men of the hoste. with the exception of four, were successfully rescued. Two of thoso who lost their lives 0 were crushed between the vessels, while' another two were W'owned. .After tho last group had safely jumped, Captain Edwai'ds himself took his leap for lite, and had hardly done so when the remains, of the ill-fated Hoste •-■ink to the bottom. The rescuing destroyer was most appropriately named the Marvel, and the capable seaman who handled her so magnificiently and to such good purpose was Commander Edwin A. Homan.