EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 255, 7 April 1915, Page 2

EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME.

SUPWA'INO BRITAIN'S BATTLKCRUIfiKRS. ] S.S. MURITAI FROM HOME. Wellington, Yesterday. An interesting story is told by the ollicers of the C. and 1). liner Muriiai, which arrived at Wellington from Barry, England, direct yesterday morning. Since the vessel left Lj-ttelton in June l,v>t year those on hoard have been throu<?h .some exciting times. From the night before war waa"declared against Germany till the first week in January the Muritai was under Admiralty control as one of' the. supply ships to the first battlecruiser squadron (which included ILM.S. New Zealand) in the North Sea. As a matter of fact, she supplied the gnat battleships with stores, etc.. the day after flie Heligoland naval fight.

JBo a Dominion reporter, Mr C. Horace, fourth' officer, gave a full account of what had happened since the Muriiai last visited New Zealand. He said; —

"After we had completed discharge at London orders came from the Admiralty for us to stand by the Chatham dockyards, so we proceeded to our station,, and on August 4—the day before war was declared —we commenced to take in stores, ammunition, etc. Our funnel was painted black and other alterations made. In fact, the old Muritai w-iiit out of existence for the time being, and we were known in future as 11.M.M.F.A. No. 1!) (His Majesty's Merchant Fleet Auxiliary No. 1!).) All our ordinary crow were paid off and bluejackets substituted. Captain J. Firth and Mr B. Sherrington, chief officer, were granted temporary commissions' in the K.M.R. and Mr C'liappel, chief engineer, was rated as engineer-lieutenant. Wo also 'i.id fifteen petty oflicers, a master-at-arms, a gunner and a paymaster on board. On August 17 we received orders to proceed to a certain naval base with instvutions to meet and supply the first battlecruiser squadron, consisting of lI.M S. Lion, Queen Mary, Princess Royal, am: New Zealand. It was a glorious sight to see the might of England's fleet nil ready for action. For several days we were in close touch with the' fleet, and as soon as tliev returned from practice, etc., we supplied them with goods, ammunition, etc."

HELIGOLAND FIGIIT. "It was on August 20 that the most memorable event occurred. On that dale the battle-cruisers came in from the Heligoland fight, which bud occurred the preceding day. It >vaa a magnificent sight, and we were fortunate in having to supply H.M.S. Lion and 11.M.5. New Zealand. I went on board both men o'war, and managed to secure a piece of (lie Lion's 'deck'which had been torn r-(F by a 4.7 in shell! from the Germans. The Lion was hit twice in that action, l.ni. one of the shells (which had hit one of the forward turrets) failed to explode, and dropped on to the dcclc. Admiral Beatty procured it, and lias taken half of the shell to keep as a memento of the fight. "After we had finished our work Admiral Beatty came on board and complimented the oflieers and the ship, lie said the Muritai was the finest supply ship sent out. ITe appeared to be very interested in .us, and asked all abmit our trade to New /,calami, and sa'/l that she was a fine class of cargo carrier. MESSAGES FROM H.M.S. NEW ( ZEALAND.

"Some of the officers from 11.M.5. New Zealand also came on board to s 'o They were very interested to lea.-n {bat we were a Nmv Zealand trader, and had left these shores at such a reee.it date. They were full of inquiry about people living in Auckland, AVoilingt'm. and other towns, and wanted to know all the latest news.

"Christmas in the North Sea was v 'll spent, although the weather was o-ui. Dense fogs were everywhere, and a ve, v vigilant wateli had to bo kept. On account of the New Zealand Government requiring tonnage to take New Zealand products away wo were reluctantly refailed, and left our base for Chatham during the first week in January. "Yes," Mr Uersee said in answer to a question, "we were very sorry to have to leave. Tt was the experience of a lifetime for evervbodv on board."