DODGING SUBMARINES
STEAMERS’ EXCITING EXPERIENCES. Of the six large cargo steamers owned by the Union S.S. Company and used in connection with the Pacifio trade,\ the Waimarino, which has just returned to Australia from Vancouver, is the only one now afloat (states a Sydney paper). The Waikawn, Waihemo, and Waitemata were all _ torpedoed in the war zone. The Waitotara was burned at sea, and the Wairnna was captured and destroyed by the German raider Wolf, leaving the Waimarino to return to the Pacific trade intact.
The Waimarino has had some thrilling experiences with U-boats, floating mines, and enemy air raids. Her first encounter with enemy submarines occurred at the Devil’s Hole, about 100 miles west of Ireland (so named for the activity of U-hoats in the vicinity), where the ship was attacked, but managed to escape without loss. A most determined attack w.as afterwards made on the steamer in the Irish Channel. The commodore of the escorting torpedo destroi-er fleet had signalled to slacken speed and receive orders .for dispersing to different ports of destination, when a school of submarines was reported by the leading vessel. Hastily forming the convoy into lino and giving orders for all vessels to zig-zag at full speed, the escorting destroyers circled at top speed round the submarine area, creating a whirlpool to render them unmanageable. Depth charges were then drop, ped, and smoke screens thrown out from each vessel, which enabled the whole convoy to emerge from the ordpnl unscathed.
On the evening before the Armistice was signed the Waimarino was again attacked, but her luck again stuck to her, npd she got clear unharmed. H.M.S. Britannia was less fortunate, as sbq was torpedoed with heavy loss of life, the same night, off Cap© Spartoi. '
Captain ,T. Thompson, now in command of tho Waimarino, was in charge of the Waihemo when that vessel was sunk. Rescued among others from the floating wreckage by the escort, the captain paid warm tributes to the British and American auxiliary fleet of trawlers, sweepers, and mine-lay. ors, which were mostly manned by former merchant seamen.
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New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10278, 13 May 1919, Page 6
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347DODGING SUBMARINES New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10278, 13 May 1919, Page 6
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