THE TOKOMARU SUNK.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 742, 3 February 1915, Page 5

THE TOKOMARU SUNK.

OFF FRENCH COAST. MUCH VALUABLE CARGO. BELGIAN GIFTS ON BOARD. London, Sunday. The Tokomaru, conveying the New Zealanders' gifts to thfl Belgians was blown up off Havre. The crew were saved. Wellington, Monday. , Ihe Tokomaru, which left Welling- I "ton on December Glh, waß a full ship. ■ Her total cargo was 3866 bale 3of | wool, 99-balis of skins, 624 bales of J hemp, 49 bales of tow, 653 casks of j tallow, 31,526 ca-rcases of mutton, j ]2,467 carcasaß of lamb, 14,991 quarters of beef, 437 crates of kidneys, 41.68. cases of cheeße, 283 cases of kauri gum, and smaller quantities of general produce. The last advice received by the company was that the Tokomaru left Teneriffe on January 23rd. At that port she was to receive instructions from London as to whether she was to call at Bordeaux to land portion of her cargo for the Continent. The vessel carried n) gifts from Wellington save blankets and a quantity 0 ( f carcases of frozen meat. It is doubtful if the general Christmas gifts were sent by the Tokomaru. It is believed they were forwarded by the Kakaia. Later. It transpires that the only cargo for the Belgians aboard the Tokomaru was five tons of clothing from Gisborne, and 11£ tons from Wellington, with possibly one case of blankets from Wellington for Kitcfcenei's army.

The Shaw Savill'3 boats carried altogether 200 tons of gifts for the Belgians, and the Tokomaru had lesß cargo of this description aboard than any of the other steamers.

STRUCK BY TORPEDO. NO NOTICE GIVEN. m ■■ ' London, Sunday. A Paris official report states that a Garman submarine, without any notice, torpedoed the Tokomaru, and also the Scania. The latter vessel Was towed' to Havre. DETAILS OP OCCURRENCE THE SUBMARINE SIGHTED London, Tuesday. The captain and second officer of the Tokomaru, on the bridge, sighted the periscope of a submarine. A few Eeconds later a torpedo struck the vessel amidships, carrying away the bulwarks and part of the bridge on the port side. After the explosion water swept the deck to the height of the funnels The crew had difficulty in reaching the deck owing the the list and the water pouring down the companionways.

The sea became black ai ink owing to,the torpedo penetrating the coal bunker.

The crew boarded three boats without mishap.' They are now in the Sailors' Home at Aldgate.