GREAT FEAT.

Otaki Mail, 9 June 1922, Page 1

GREAT FEAT.

A NEW STORY OF THE WAR. A story which goes to prove the heroism of British seamen was related to a Standard reporter by Captain Neville, ; formerly a well-known Union Steamship Co. captain, who is on a visit to Palmerston. When he had command of the hospital ship Maheno on the latter's first voyage to England with some hundreds of sick unci wounded aboard, Captain Neville sighted a floating mine in the English Channel. It was then late in the afternoon and the mine would soon be obscured by the approaching darkness. The British Admiralty was advised of the discovery by wireless, and an acknowledgement was received. Just prior to the ship again getting- under way—-there were no firearms of any description on

board, and consequently the mine could not be exploded—two officers, who had been in the navy during the war, and had been taken on the Maheno in Egypt, obtained permission to provision a lifeboat, so that they might •'stand by" and warn any vessel of their danger during the night. The boat was lowered and two men trailed a rope round the dangerous object. The Maheno then steamed away, her crimson cross and green lights fading in the j darkness from the view of the brave officers, who were left tossing in an ojjju boat, moored to the mine. A light flickered at the head of the improvised mast, and passing vessels, plunging J through a typical dirty, mid-Channel, night, were given warning of danger. Hours later a specially despatched patrol boat relieved the two men from their vigil, blew up the mine and returned to port. Both men. said Captain Neville, were decorated by the British Government for "distinguished service."