AUSTRALASIANS' HEROISM ON TORPEDOED SHIP.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 138, 28 January 1916, Page 3 (Supplement)

AUSTRALASIANS' HEROISM ON TORPEDOED SHIP.

"NOT AFRAID TO DIE!" THEY CRIED. GENERAL GAVE LIFE FOR OTHERS. (Special cable to the "New York Times," November 24, 191 -"j•) Details of the perfect discipline maintained by the Australasian troops when the transport Southland was torpedoed some time ago have been forwarded by Captain C. E. W. Bean, the official Press representative .vith the Australasians at the Dardanelles.

The transport was carrying the men to Lemnos. The torpedo tore a hole forty feet by twelve on the port side. The men turned out immediately, ran straight to their proper places, and ed up. Their officers shouted "Steady, boys, that's the one thing! Steady!" The Southland was listing heavily to pert. Afterward the list changed with a lurch to starboard, but the men stood there. The discipline was perfect. In the forward part of the ship they could see a hatch broken in and water washing about the dark tpace cf the hold, with the bodies of some of their comrades who had been killed by the explosion floating about in it.

"Bad luck, that two and a half months in the desert should end like this." said one "Are we dcVvnhearted." called another:

"No ' they all shouted. "Are we afraid to die?" "Are there enough boats for all one of the men was asked by his officer. "1 don't know," was the reply. "The best thing we can do is to cut down seme of these horse-boxes in •use they are necessary." So a party set to work with might and main, chopping down part ot ihe temporary fittings. lUtnnwhile of the boats were launched, but owing to the haste one or two overturned. An order came, "Six men wanted tn jump into the sea .and right an overturned lifeboat.'' Six men came forward instantly, div ed over, righted the overturned boat, and baled her out.

By 12 o'clock the last boat had left the ship. It contained the Geneiai and his staff, who were travelling by this ship. During the Ion;? wait the men amused themselves by singing songs. There remained on the Southland the captain, officers, some members of the crew, and a number of Australasian officers and men who had volunteered to stoke the <,hip and bring her to port. The vessel eventually reached Mudros. One of the officers who saw the in-

cident states that General Linton was seen in the water, swimming well. Someone shouted to him, "How are you qetting on. sir " He answered, "I'm doing well. Save .a . others first."