FIGHTING THE SUBMARINES.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1918, Page 1

FIGHTING THE SUBMARINES.

LIEUT.-COAL SANDER’S DEATH. AUCKLAND, Dec. 17. Publication of full details regarding the action in which Lieutenant-Com-mander W. E. Sanders, Y.C., D. 5.0., met bis death on August 14tli, 1917, has now been made possible for the first time by the lifting of the naval censorship. The information given by Air E. H. C. Sanders, of Takapunu, father of the late Lieutenant-Commander Sanders, is contained in a letter from the Admiralty, written on December 14th of last year, and sent with the request that the contents be regarded as confidential. No official information has as yet been received by Air Sanders as to the particular deed of for which his son was awarded the V".C. The letter is ns follows: “ Account of the sinking of H.AI.S. Prize. Lieutenant-Commander AV. E. Sanders, ILN.R., by an enemy submarine on August 14th, 1917. At 1.30 a.in. a man-of-war was in company with the Prize, decoy sailing ship, oil August 13th, when at 3.50 p.m. the Prize hoisted a signal indicating “enemy to port,” and hove-to. Fire was opened on the Prize, and shots could bo seen falling near her, although the submarine with which she was engaged was not seen. The Prize bad hoisted the AA'liite Ensign, her , guns wore seen manned, aiul she was ready to attack, but it was difficult for the ship in company to make out anything, as there was a considerable mist that night. However, at 9 o’clock, when ,the two ships had an opportunity to talk, the Prize gave her some details of the action. In the afternoon the submarine had been sighted in (lattitude and longitude, given) the Atlantic, north-west of Ireland, about two miles off, three points before the port beam. She dived after firing a few shots, and appeared again on the starboard side. The Prize opened fire at 200 yards, - and Lieutenant-Com-mander Sanders thought he had got five shots home. The enemy submarine appeared to sink, or, at any rate, disappeared. “ After this communication the ship in company drew off and took station astern of the Prize. The night was dark and squally. The Prize was ahead, her outline just visible. About 1.30 a.in. a heavy explosion was heard, and the Prize was seen to heel over to port, and disappeared in a few seconds. Nothing could be seen of her with glasses or with the naked eye. A torpedo had struck her, and she must have sunk almost immediately. The accompanying ship passed close to the position where flic Prize had disappeared, and remained there, some time, but nothing could bo seen or hoard in the dark and storm. As soon as day broke, 5.15 a.m., careful search of the position was made, but nothing further was seen. “The Prize had fought gallant actions with sub marines "on April 30th and June 13th. 1917. She was sunk on August 14th in the Atlantic on a dark and stormy night, and her gallant commander, Lieutenant-Commander AA T . E. Sanders, who in a short live months had been awarded the A’.C. and D. 5.0., went down with her beneath the Atlantic waves, leaving his name to he imperishably inscribed on the same roll of naval history where stand the names of Blake, Nelson, and Riou.”