The Matunga & Wairuna

Taihape Daily Times, 14 March 1918, Page 5

The Matunga & Wairuna

GRAPHIC STORY BY A STEWARDESS.

LONDON, March 12.

Mrs. Mackenzie, a stewardess of the Matunga. has supplied a graphic story of her experiences. She says the Matunga was about eighteen hours off the Rabaul 0 u August 6th, when the Wolf cameh in sight. She had picked up a Maiuug a wireless on the previous night annouuvlug her arrival. Evidently she was informed that were taking 500 tons of coal. The Wolf was desperately needing coal, and awaited us for five days. Immediately the Wolf appeared she sent up a seaplane, which circled over the Matunga to investigate whether

she was armed. She then came "closer and hoisted a German ensign and signalled to us to stop. The chief officer apparently mistook the signal, and went on, whereupon the ’Wolf fired across our bow at 500 yards range. A prize crew from the Wolf, with a bombing officer, immediately followed. All were fully armed and carried a

large number of bombs. Boats from the Wolf took off the Matunga’s captain, officers, military officers and soldiers and three mile civilians. We then sailed for Dutch New Gunea, where we discharged the coal. The Wolf shipped the coal and ail provisions, and transferred the stewards, sailors and others who had been left on the Matuuga aboard the Wolf. The Wolf then proceeded seawards for ten miles on August 27th, when the Matunga was sunk by mean's of time bombs, . Every precaution was taken to prevent the floating of the wreckage. The steamer disappeared Tn half an hour. The subsequent course of the Wolf is only surmise. I presume she went to the Indian Ocean, Once off Colombo, and later near Singapore and Borneo, the Wolf sowed mines. I nightly heard the rattle of sounding lines, and then the mines were carefully lowered. , (Details follow of the capture of the ,Hitachi Mam and other vessels, already, cabled.) The W r olf was now making for Trinidad Islands, but picked up a wireless stating that a Chilian warship had arrived there. She thereupon altered her course to the opposite direction, and after coaling from the Igotz Mendi ?she headed for Germany. In the iMfd-Atlantic two armed ships, apparently American transports, suddenly hove in sight, v and must have passed close to the Wolf and Igotz Mendi, causing great consternation a.board; but they proceeded without signalling. There was stormy Weather for the latter part cf the voyage, and Mrs. Mackenzie was ill far three weeks, and does not know what happened till the Igotz Mendi was stranded; but understood she slipped down the Norwegian coast without meeting British warships.

THE WAIRUNA’S FATE.

LONDON, March 12.

Messrs Rees and Donovan, members of the Wairuna’s crew, have reached London. They state that the Wairuna was captured off the Kermadecs, where the raider was close inshore refitting. A German band was playing aboard the Wolf. One of the musicians sighted the approaching steamer. A seaplane flew over the Wairuna and dropped a paper, ordering the ship to stop. At the same time the Wolf fired a shot across the bows. A prize crew went aboard and took possession. The raider worked at the Wairuna for sixteen days and removed 1200 tons of coal and provisions and forty-two sheep. At this itime the W r olf was at starvation point in the matter of food and coal. The Germans twitted the Wairuna’s crew with not scuttling the vessel when her capture was inevitable. When dismantling was completed, bombs were placed in the bow and the W T airuna sunk. The Wolf nearly waylaid the Niagara on two cessions. Cruisers by wireless, warned the Wolf of the imminence of danger.

Sir Thomas Mackenzie has provided Messrs Rees and Donovan’s wants and entertained them.