A SUBMARINE INCIDENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1917, Page 3

A SUBMARINE INCIDENT.

An incident of the German submarine campaign and the reply of the British Nevy is related by an officer of the Sixteenth New Zealand Reinforcements, states the ‘ Post, “ Ihe New Zealand transports were nearing Old England,” writes the officer, “ and had entered the danger zone. In the morning nothing was in sight, but at 7.30 a.m. a destroyer joined us. She had passed us during the night and picked up our other ships, and so had to turn round and catch us up. We still went full speed, but on a zig-zag course, and everything went well until about 10 a.m., when we came abreast of a large cargo steamer that had stopped for some reason or other. We watched her with curiosity, and could not make out what the low-lying craft just astern of her was. We were about two miles away from this ship, and even as we watched we were astonished to see a great spout of water rise from her forehold. Then the mysterious craft was explained—it was a German submarine. Our destroyer immediately swerved off and made for the scene. When about three-quarters of a mile from us she opened fire on the submarine astern of the ship and on a second that appeared at the bow. She only fired about six shots and then sped on. When she arrived at the stricken vessel she circled round, and then went off in the direction of a small boat, which proved to contain the crew of the ship. After taking the men on board, she rejoined us, and her commander signalled: 1 1 believe I have sunk both of the German submarines,’ and when the Navy ‘ believes ’ it bas sunk a vessel it is a poor look-out for the crew of that vessel.”