FEARED MANY LIVES LOST AS RESULT OF CHANNEL COLLISION

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6543, 27 February 1928, Page 7

FEARED MANY LIVES LOST AS RESULT OF CHANNEL COLLISION

Italian Steamer Hit By Russian, Sinking MYSTERIOUS FEATURES UNEXPLAINED [By Electric Cable-Copyright] [Aust and N.Z. Cablo Association.] (Received Sunday, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 25. Tho Peninsula liner Moldavia in response to a wireless picked up a man in the English Channel with life nearly extinct, among a large quantity of wreckage following a ft collision between the Italian steamer Alcantara and the Russian ship Tovarisch in which the former was sunk. The Moldavia wirolossed later that she was convinced there were no other survivorsThe man picked up died and is being buried at sea. LIFEBOATS PERSEVERE ’ WITH ALL-NIGHT SEARCH. (A.P.A. and “ Argus.”) (Received Sunday, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 23. Mystery surrounds last night’s collision. The death roll is believed to b 8 serious. Tho Tovarisch, which is a Russian training ship on which a hundred cadets are now reported to bo afloat, is proceeding to Southampton. Lifeboats continued their search throughout the night. Confusion was increased by language difficulties. A thick fog also- added to the troubles of the rescuers. Many of the Moldavia’s passengers were dining when tho ship stopped and others were seated in tho lounges There was much- • excitement while watching lifeboats ■ search among the wreckage in the dense fog. WHY WAS S.O.S. CANCELLED 7 (Published in the “ Times.”) (Received Sunday, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Fob. 25. A mysterious feature of the collision is that tho Tovarisch after the first S.O.S. cancelled tho call saying that two vessels were standing hy. This resulted in the departure of lifeboats from the Moldavia being delayed two and a-half hours. Lifeboatmen are of opinion that some people in the Alcantara might have been saved if delay had not occurred. Thereafter the Tovarisch disregarded attempts by many wireless stations to secure information. TOVARISCH REACHES PORT. (Received Monday, 1.8 a-m.) LONDON, Feb. 26. The Tovarisch arrived at Southampton with her bows smashed from the reported collision. She brought -one survivor from the sunken Italian ship.