FRYATT'S CHIVALRY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 238, 29 December 1916, Page 5 (Supplement)

FRYATT'S CHIVALRY.

SEIZURE OF THE BRUSSELS. I have just spoken with five stewardesses who were aboard the Brussels when captured by the Germans on June 23 and were taken to Ztebrugge with the gallant Captain Fryatt (writes the Rotterdam correspondent of the Daily Chronicle). The stewardesses were released from Germany on Saturday, and are now awaiting passage to England. Describing the capture of tj.ie Brussels soon after one o'clock in the moring, they said: "We were suddenly aroused by loud voices on On leaving our cabins we found the Brussels surrounded by fiv; torpedo boats. REVOLVERS FLOL'RiSHED.

"Already Germans speaking perfect English, were climbing on board, flourishing revolvers and ordering all win were on duty to cease work, and all who were off duty to go below. "Strict orders were issued that no light of any sort was to be shown from the ship." Some stewardesses were of opinion that the enemy boats were at first mistaken for English, even after the Germans had hailed the Brussels, this being done in English. It is also stated by the stewardesses that there is no doubt that, on the night of the departure of the Brussels from Dutch waters, a signal light was shown from the coast at the Hook of Holland.

This light may have been seen by a German submarine and transmitted by wireless to waiting torpedo boats. When the Germans were climbing on board the Brussels the wireless ope* rator asked Captain Fryatt if ho should send out a signal by wireless, but the captain considered it was too late, adding, "I don't care what they do with me, but I must think of the lives of the women on board." Thus he gave one more proof of his fearlessness and chivalry. Captain Fryatt had beon warned that if he signalled, his vessel and all on board would be sent to the bottom.

(Reuter's Rotterdam correspondent states that flie Germans, as soon as they boarded the Brussels, destroyed the wireless.) NIGHT IN A CELLAR.

When the five stewardesses reached Zeebrugge they were at once taken on to Ghent, where they spent the night in a sort of cellar under the railway station. The next afternoon they were taken by train to Cologne, at which place they caught their last glimpse of Captain Fryatt in another train.

From Cologne they were taken to an internment camp at Halzminden, believed to be near Hanover, and situated amid beautiful scenery. There they found a South African lady, Miss Shaw, also interned. The food was bad, and life extremely monotonous. Food from friends in Euland and Holland was always most welcome, and very necessary to sustain life.

The women expected to be interned till the war ended, but the Consul for the United States visited them and said everything possible was being done for their release.

In connection with the statement that the departure of the Brussels from he Hook was signalled by a light, it is interesting to note that the Duch police have again made a big haul of spies operating between Rotterdam and tin Hook. It is a notorious fact that German agents openly stand on wharves where boats for England are lying, closely watching everybody and everything going aboard-