600 MILES TO GO ON RECORD TOW IN THE PACIFIC

Grey River Argus, 9 October 1948, Page 4

600 MILES TO GO ON RECORD TOW IN THE PACIFIC

P.A. AUCKLAND, Oct. 8. The liner “Palana,” which has the disabled freighter “Fernmoor” in tow in the Pacific, is now about 650 miles from Auckland. Ploddmg amm at about six knots an hour. ?The snips have now been in company for 16 days, and have covered about 1,550 miles of their 2,200-mile journey to Auckland. Reporting another 24 hours of steady progress, Captain Spurr, of the Palana says that the run up to noon to-day was 110 miles. The Palana advised to-night that the weather was partly clouded, and that a light westerly wind and slight south-westedly swell were being experienced. If favourable weather continues, the two ships should end their re-cord-breaking tow on Tuesday or Wednesday. The humour of the British seaman, which never fails even under trying or monotonous conditions, is evident in the radio message which was sent to the “Herald’ by Captain Spurr, master of the Palana to-day. He sa”s that three seamen in the Palana were leaning on the rail, watching the ship astern. One said: ; “Can’t she roll!”

A companion answered: “She’d roll in Panama Canal!” A third: “Lor love us! She’d roll in a nerishing dry dock!”