THE WAIRUNA MYSTERY

Taihape Daily Times, 13 October 1917, Page 5

THE WAIRUNA MYSTERY

LOSS ATTRIBUTED TO ENEMY ACTION AUCKLAND, Oct 12. The following has been released by the Censor for publication: Finding of the- Court of Inquiry to investigate the loss of the Wairuna delivered by Mr Cutten: “I find, and the assessors agree with me, that there is not sufficient evidence to enable us to make a defiinite finding as to the cause of the loss of t-he Wairuna, nor as to 'the time or place of such loss, but, by eliminating less probable causes it is possible to form a conclusion of some C' value. ' The ship left Auckland on May 31st last for San Francisco direct. No further news has been obtainable. It may therefore be assumed that ghe has been lost. The cause of the loss may have been the ordinary perils of the sea, or it may have been due to enemy action (including in this expression destruction by mine, submarine or raider; fire arising from the placing of some combustible material on board the vessel; an internal explosion from a bomb placed on board before her departure, containing timing mechanism to delay* the explosion until the vessel was well out to sea). The vessel left Auckland seaworthy, well found, wel officered, and well mannered. During what should have been the period of her voyage, fine weather prevailed, and no submarine disturbance or extraordinary happening of any kind ha s been reported Regarding a garbled wireless message received by an operator on another fne Court held that the evidence was not sufficient to show that it came from the Wairuna. As for the possibility of fire, the probabilities are that a wireless message would have been sent out, and boats launched. Taking the evidence as a whole, we think it improbable that the vessel was lost by any, of the ordinary perils of the sea, and it is probable the vessel was lost through enemy action.” After discussing all aspects of such action,' the Court continues: “We think, therefore, it is highly probable the los s was caused by enemy action, either through the placing of a timed bomb on board the vessel before she left port, and of these two the latter is the more probable cause. In view of our finding, there are several considerations to which we feel impelled to refer. The evidence disclosed that a number of cases were shipped in the Wairuna consigned by two firms, one of which may he described as an alien firm, and the other as active members of alien enemy nationality; that no precautions whatever are taken to check the contents of packages shipped; that no precautions are taken to search the persons and luggage of those going on to vessels; that insufficient precautions are taken to prevent undesirable persons going on to wharves and vessels, and working on wharve s and vessels; that insufficient precautions are taken while a vessel is in port to prevent persons reaching the vessel from the sea end of the wharf, and from boats going alongside the vessel. “We make the following recommendations for serious and urgent consideration by the Government: “ (1) That stricter precautions be taken to prevent the approach of unauthorised persons to vessels and wharves. “ (2) That stricter precautions be taken to prevent undesirable men being employed on vessels and wharves. “ (3) That firms having members of alien enemy nationality be not per- ■ mitted to ship goods. “(4) That all persons going on 1 board vessels be searched, and all luggage to be taken on to vessels' to be examined. “(5) That all cargo for shipment be packed under Government supervision and be retained thereafter under Government control until shipped. “(6) That if there are cases where compliance with the immediately preceding recommendations is not pracin such cases the packages be retained in Government control for an indefinite period before shipment.” STATEMENT BY NAYAL AUTHORITIES. WELLINGTON, Oct 12. With reference to the recent official announcement that a German raider had not been responsible for the sinking of the Wairuna, it is now officially stated by the naval authorities in New Zealand that there is no truth whatever in the rumour that the Wairuna’s crew landed on any part of the American coast.