THE STOPPING OF THE LINER GALICIAN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 113, 6 October 1914, Page 8

THE STOPPING OF THE LINER GALICIAN.

A GALLANT GERMAN CAPTAIN.

Referring to the arrival safe in port of the much-discussed Ruahine, the New Zealand Times says:—"This vessel was not actually chased by any cruiser of the enemy, tut she was not far off one, and saw the famous Galician in the harbor of TcnorilTo. That liner was captured some weeks ago, and was believed to have been sunk by her captor. But she was released after a rather exciting interval, just before her captor met his fate. The German captain came aboard in full uniform, and very punctilious. He •was very sorry, 'very aorry indeed, captain,' but he had his duty to perform. Some question about the manner of this duty drew from him the protest of 'Well, we are not pirates.' The manner consisted in taking all the ship's papers, destroying her 'wireless,' the arresting oi an officer and one or two other combatants, and commandeering of all the quinine there was on board. One sees that the war has seriously cut Germany's supply of that very necessary drug. It is a sidelight, but powerful. The manner, however, of the proceedings was quite polite and agreeable. So much so that when the German happened to mention till at he was out of 'smokes,' the Britisher at once presented him with a few boxes of good cigars, refusing all his offers of paymsnt. lie was made to understand that, of course, his ship would bo sunk in due course, but with all due consideration for everybody concerned. Getting near a port, he was ordered to get his boats ready, and the passengers passed a very anxious night preparing for their boat voyage to the said port, the women and children being' terribly uneasy at the prospect. When morning dawned there came a high wind and a nasty, chopping sea. This increased the terrors of the situation, for evidently the embarkation in these boats had be'come impossible without great loss of life. But relief came as the ship rolled in the uneasy Ben. 'On account of your women and children, you are released. Good-bye.' It was the message of that polite German captain. It was a kindly, considerate deed, whieh deserves to be recorded to his credit, and to the credit of his service. The more so as it is probable that he died in the fight with H.M.S. Highflyer, 5000 tons, 26 knots, 450 men, 11 6in guns and 8 12pounders, to the captain of which he re fused to surrender. Being but an auxiliary, with nothing heavier than 4in guns and a speed of under 20 knots, he could not hope to escape destruction from her. If he died in the fight, he died like a gallant gentleman. Teace to hig ashes, and 'honor to his memory!"

The Times is indebted to Captain Forbes, of the Ruahine, for these particulars, which ho had from the captain of the Galician, and has much pleasure in making them public. The Ruahine herself got away from conversation with the captain of 11.M.5. Cornwall, who advised her skipper as to his course, and sent on a wirelcs 3 which told half-a-dozen of our own "auxiliaries" patrolling those parts of the sea of his whereabouts and course. Here we have a little lifting of the war curtain which has descended on the sea as well as the land. There are stores of ships, crack liners of our mercantile marine, having during the last two months mysteriously disappeared. Here is where some of them are. They were taken off their berths without note or warning, and slipped away to sea in the dark with sealed .orders. Enquiries made in all directions fur their officers were fruitless, neither their clubs nor their homes could give any information whatever. The ships had gone, and there was no trace. This voyage of the Ruahine throws somo light on the matter of their disappearance.