RIVER CLYDE SALVED.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3345, 25 November 1919, Page 3

RIVER CLYDE SALVED.

AN ‘lilC?H'() OF GOL'L.T.PO.I,I. ,__,..._.. 'I‘H.E HTlb".l‘(f)RlC 1.141%.-L\~:l)lN(_\'u I ............. The co‘lliel* River Clyde, which was! run ashore at Cape Helles-, G43.llipoli,‘ on April 25. 1915, to land troops un-l d'er fire, was s'alved recently and towed to Muclros, by the Ocean Salvagei Company ’s sreamer La Vtalette. It was discovered after the River Clyde was refloated ‘rhaf she was in much better eondition than had been expected. The La. Vale-tte was employed in carrying out certain repairs to the River Clyde to enable her To be! towed to Malta. ‘ The landing‘ on V beach was planned to take place on the following llines. As soon as the enemy’s delfellceshad'b'een heavily bombarded by‘ the fleet, three eomp'.—lnies of the Dub» lin FllSil(‘l‘.‘~l were «to "be towed ashore. They were to be closely followed by‘

the Collier River Clyde (Commanderl Urwin, R.N.). carrying between decks some of the Dublin Fusiliers, the Muir J ster Fusiliers. half a battalion of the Hampshire Regiment, the West Riding Field Company, and other details, The River Clyde had been specially prepared for the rapid disembarkation of her troops, and Openings for their exit had" l)(‘en"cut in her sides” giving access to a wide gangplank by which the men could pass rapidly into light- ' ers which she had in tow. As soon as the first tows had reached land the River Clyde was run straight ashore. Her lighters were to be placed in position to form a gangxxfay between the ship and the beach, and by this means it was hoped that 2090 men‘

could“ b thrown ashore with the utmost i'a[_;idity. Furtllc-I', to assist in C<_)v(‘l'illp; the landing, a battery of machine guns, protected by s'and—bags, had boon mounted in her bows. The autual course of events did not correspond with the intentions of the commanduvs. The River Clyde vcame into position ofi' So,dd-cl-Baht‘, -‘ln advance of the tows, and, just as the latter reached the shore Commander Ul-w‘in beached his ship also. Up to the very last moment it looked as If the landing was to be unopposed. But the moment the fizs-t boat to11o.Iie(1 bottom the storm. broke. -

A ton-11a.do of fire swept over the beach, the incoming boats. and the River Clyde. The Dublin F'llsilol's and the naval boats’ crews suffered exeeeding_rly heavy losses while still in the bo'a’r-s. None of -the lutztor were able to get Ofl’ the beach aguhl. and they were destroyed upon the shore. Now c:.lme_ the momen-1 for the River Clyde fo pour our her living freight. But 'grevious delay was caused by the flif’ficu.l’cy in pflaeing /she ,ligh'ters in positio-n between the ship and the shore. A strong current hindered‘ the work, and fhe -enemy’s fire was’ so intense uflmt iahnosf. every man engaged upon if"was immediately shot. Owing: however, to the splendid gallantry of the naval working party, the lighters were eventually placed in position. zmd ‘rho disenlb'a.l'kation hegan. . ‘ ‘