ENCOUNTER WITH GERMAN SUBMARINE.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 October 1915, Page 8

ENCOUNTER WITH GERMAN SUBMARINE.

TWO STEAMERS TORPEDOED. WOUNDED SOLDIER'S NARRATIVE. A member of the Second Reinforcements, Private George Portas, who was invalided home to England, gives an interesting account of his trip on the hospital ship, during which they encountered a German submarine. He was first sent to Malta, *and then to England in the hospital ship Loyalty, run by Indian nurses, doctors and servants. The trip, he says, .-was a very exciting one, as when leaving Gibraltar a fog enveloped them, and it was impossible to see a yard ahead. The weather from Gibraltar was not too good, and the Bay of Biscay truly lived up to its reputation. They had no escort, and a German submarine put in an appearance, but although it did not attempt to do their vessel any harm, owing probably to its being a hospital ship, it sank two other boats. While they were having dinner on the Sunday (August 1) their ship stopped, and on looking ahead they saw a submarine trying to torpedo a steamer which was running away. Eventually the steamer wa3 caught up, a torpedo was sent out, and with an explosion the ship went down. Another ship close by suffered in like manner. They could see it a?! quite plainly, as they were only three miles/ away. They sighted a boat full of surviyors—the officers and crew of the Benvorlkk—and owing to the heavy sea had much difficulty in taking them 1 aboard. Another boat-load was supposed to be afloat, but they cruised around for four hours and did not sight it. Private Portas did 'not know the name of the other boat that was sunk. The submarine wa a one of the latest, painted a zebra color, and very hard to pick up.