KICKED BACK INTO THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 January 1916, Page 10

KICKED BACK INTO THE SEA.

FIENDISH CONDUCT OF A fiERMAN OFFICER. TRANSPORT TORPEDOEp. 53 FRENCHMEN SAVED OUT OF 800. The fiendish conduct of a German submarine officer who kicked drowning men back into the sea when they tried to cling to his craft is described in a letter just received from Algiers. 'Die submarine was stated to be "unknown," but nobody save a German could behave in the manner related. Mr. 11. Bacon, an officer on the steamer Lady Plymouth, of Cardiff, which was on the outward voyage to Algiers, says:

"We were steaming along when the capitain observed a lifeboat. He made straight for it to investigate, but found it empty, though there were signs that it had been occupied, for it contained the remains of food and some water, and was fully equipped for emergencies, The name 011 the boat was the Dahra, of Jj.l Rochelle. France. We went 011 our way again, and about an hour and a-half later we saw another object painted white, which was taken for another boat. But 011 our approaching it, it was found to be one of those modern rafts —designed to float when a ship goes down. AVe proceeded 011 our way again. The captain was very suspicious, and had extra men 011 watch. An object showed up far away 011 the beam with, a short mast, and the captain altering his course wo steamed towards it. Through the ship's telescope we saw signs of human beingj waving their hands and garments.

CLINGING TO WRECKAGE. "On getting near ft small boat was lowered from our ship, and we succeeded in taking off four officers, forty-two soldiers, and part of the crew belonging to the transport steamer Calvados, of St. Nazairc, France. She had been torpedoed by an unknown submarine, Not very far away was part of another raft, on "which were a few more survivors. Further, to our astonishment, we found floating wreckage with men banging on to it for dear life. However they managed to cling so long was wonderful, Kveryone turned out and did his duty like a Briton to save these poor chaps They were French soldiers, who had been ill the trenches for fifteen months, and were going for a rest. "Ono officer, who spoke English very well, informed mo that tliey saw three soldiers who lost their hold on a raft make for the submarine, to which thoy clung in tlie hope of being taken on board. An officer, decorated with gold iace, kicked the men's hands, and tho helpless French soldiers on the raft saw their comrades drown twenty yards from them. Our ship Searched for four hours, when darkness fell, and, being satisfied that thorp were no more to be saved, we proceeded to Algiers. "Some of the poor fellows we rescued were so cut and bruised that great cart had to be exercised in getting them-on board. No one had any sleep that night except the Frenchmen. Some of them kissed us all in turn, and it inado n lump come up in my throat to see' their gratitude. In flio early morning, after the rescue, two shots were, fired at us, but they did not bit us, and wo took all possible precautions in obscuring lights. lam sorry to say wc could only save fifty-three out of eight hundred, and we hope that someone else has rescued others."