CASTLE LINER DAMAGED

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 371, 27 February 1937, Page 5

CASTLE LINER DAMAGED

HOLED BY A MINE.

SHOCK AT TEA-TIME.

Passengers Dance Afterwards Till Midnight.

Press Association—Copyright. Marseilles, February 25.

The British Union Castle liner Llandovery Castle, proceeding to Marseilles with 300 passengers, struck a mine at Cape Cerbere, where the Franco-Spanish frontier joins the coast, resulting in an explosion forward which caused a heavy list. The vessel is/ threatened by flooding in No. 1 and No. 2 holds, and is hove-to outside Port Vendres, which she reached under her own steam. Launches are standing by to take off the passengers if necessary. “We struck a floating mine at 4.45 p.m. as we were passing Cape Creus, ten miles from shore,” said a passenger. “Most of us were having tea. There was a sudden roar and a high column of water rose up to the left side of the bows. The water immediately began to pour into a great hole in the ship’s side and the bows sank until the ship was tilted. The pumps were Immediately put into action and water-tight doors closed, but there vas no panic. Nobody was injured. The captain, after sending an SOS, changed the course for Port Vendres, while the ship’s officers invited the passengers to the ballroom, where they danced and sang as if nothing was amiss.

“When the vessel was hove-to outside Port Vendres,” continued the passenger. “the bows. l were sunk 30 feet in the water, but the sea was calm and there is no intention art. present of disembarking the passengers, Who were still dancing on the brilliantly lit ship at midnight.”

The Daily Mall says that the captain hat 1 wirelessed for powerful tugs to tow the ship to Marseilles. Mines are reported, particularly by French ships, to have been freely sown off the Spanish coasts, including Majorca. The French Navy have arranged to begin mineswieeping operations.