SEA HEROES.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1917, Page 8

SEA HEROES.

ADMIRAL JELLTCOE'S STORY OF A 1 DRIFTER. Tiro fine stories of our mercantile seamen were told by Sir John Jellicoe at a recent- Mansion House meeting: "The unarmed steamer Palm Branch was attacked by a submarine on November 21 and hit in several places, A young apprentice remained at his post alt£rou;;h badly wounded. The ship escaped. .Some tiuie later she was given n gun and put to sea again, and last March she was once more attacked by two submarines. She set up a line light, and not only sot away savW but also sank one of the submarines first. "Then there is the case of a drifter known as the Gowaniea. She only had a six-pound gun aboard. Three Austrian cruisers came along and ordered the drifter to surrender. Although the captain only had the six-pound gun he called for three cheers and started to fire away with his six-pounder and engaged the three erui>ers. lie brought his ship away in safety. One of the deck hands had his leg shattered by an explosion. He continued at and fought his gun throughout the action." A detailed story of the brave apprentice of the Palm Branch. Hurry C. Forest, relates that he is a Sunderland lad only IB years old.' Both his father a> brother are on active bervice with the Army. It was in November last that the Palm Branch was attacked. Forest ivas on duty on the bridge at the steer-ing-wheel when the Submarine was sightid. An ofder was Immediately given to I him to sfcer a zigzag course, and the submarine at once opened lire. One of j the earliest shots struck the vessel above ! the wat.er-line. Another crashed into j the ship and wrecked several of the officers' rooms, setting them on tire. The crew attacked tho llames and put them out. Still the submarine went on firing. One shell, bursting about 10 yards away, wounded one of the crew. Another shell tent a shower of fragments on to the bridge, one piece striking Forest on the tpp of the head, inilicting a wound which bled freely. The captain told him, "You had bet'/cr go below.'' "No.'' replied Forest, 'V'm all right; I would like to stay on the bridge with you, sir." And seeing the ' lad's determination the captain gave ' way and Forest continued to steer with shells constantly dropping around. Luckily the vessel drew gradually ahead and escaped. Forest soon recovered from his wound, and after a brief ; visit homo went to sea again, where he ■ still is.