RUNNING THE BLOCKADE.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 August 1915, Page 5

RUNNING THE BLOCKADE.

TAISSLTS ASXIOUS -TIME. CAPTAINS' AiND OFWCRRS' LONG VIGIL IN SUBMARINE ZONE. Mr. L. J. Wahlers, purser of the liner Tainui, which arrived at Wellington on Saturday from London, gives an interesting description of the experiences of "running the blockade" against the German a.t a time when "pirates" were unusually aotive. On the evening of the day of filing from London, the Tainui was obliged to anchor at the mouth of the Thames owing to the Admiralty order that 110 ship allowed to pass Dover in the night. Opportunity was taken whilst at anchor to muster all passengers and crew for boat drill. Each individual was instructed where his iboat was. what to do when he arrived there, and was also given instruction* in the fitting 1 on 0? lifebelts. The iboats were tested and swung out; then lowered to the level of the saloon deck, where they were ofj easy access, and where there would he no delay in launching them in case of emergency. Captain Moffatt left nothing to chance, being determined not to be caught unawares. The bridge and chart-room were 'barricaded witfh sandbags, deck lights were extinguished, saloon arnd caibin lights masked, the 4.7 gnu loaded and manned by experienced gunners, watchmen posted aft, forward and amidships. 111 fact, there seemed to 'he watchmen everywhere.

At daybreak on •Time 13 anchor was raised, and the Tainui set out to traverse the "danger zone'' 011 her passage to the southern soas. For a couple of days the tension was Wgh, luul poswere much concerned as to the possibility of encountering a Oennan submarine. This anxiety was not altogether unfounded, for, early on the morning of the ISUi, a patrol boat warned, the Tainui to alter her- course, m submarines were avtive in the neighborhood. At midnight the same day another message, this time by wireless, was received to alter the course again. T'nti! the submarine region was passed. Captain Mofl'att and his officers did without sleep, and kept un a Ions; and ceaseless vigil. Few of the passengers siept much during the Initial three nights of the journev. and some went to bed with thci)- lifAelts already adjusted. It was not until after three days that any precautions were relaxed, the boats raised and swung in, and the deck lights allowed. Passengers then soor recovered from their nervousness, tml felt nothing but. the heartiest admiration for the enptain and officers, to whose arduous labors their sa-fetv was due.