ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 June 1918, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

U-BOAT MINED. frantic struggles of the crew London, June 17. A. gran story is told of the destruction of one of Germany's most resent U-boatS, which was one of the last to leave Zee* brugge before the port was bottled up. Out of a crew of forty only two survived after a terrible struggle with death for 90 mimrtes, 20 fathoms below the •nrface, where tbe vessel foundered after striking a mine. _ A number of the crew committed suicide. believing there was no chance of leaving the submarine alive. The commander was one of the most expert in tie German submarine service. The explosion threw the delicate machinery out of gear, and a portion of the vessel was plunged in darkness. The engineer succeeded in putting the submarine in a horimmtal position and prevented her taming turtle as the water poured in •fter an attempt to blow out the tanks had proved unsuccessful. The vessel would not rise to the surface, and the inrush of water increased. Tie only chance of escaping was to force open the coming tower and forward hatches and trust to the compressed ait driving each man torpedo-like to the surface. The effort to open one of the torpedo hatchet was futile, as the outside pressure was too great. The water mounted higher and higher, creeping up the men's legs. Sea water, miring- with the chemicals in the accumulators, created poisonous gas. and the crew were faced with suffocation. The conditions became so terrible that some began to lose their reason and threw themselves headlong into the rising water to die. One tried to shoot himself, but the weapon missed fire and ho jumped into the water at the bottom of the vessel. After superhuman efforts the forward hatch of the conning tower was forced open and those still alive escaped through the hatch. As they reached the surface the conjpresed air tn their lungs burst their limp, and twenty sank with bloodcurdling yells. A British trawler picked up tha two *nr»ituru;—Ads. NX Cable Assoa. ARMED CRUISER SONS. Received June 18, 3.45 pjn. [London, June 17. lit Admiralty reports that a German submarine torpedoed and sank the armed mercantile crniser j>ahia, on the 13th. Oae officer and IS men are presumed to bave been drowned.—Aus,•Hi. Cable Asm a. and Beater. RESCUE OP KRTNSJA'B SURVIVORS. Washington, June 17. A' naval vessel picked up the survivors of the Norwegian barque Krineja. She is the twentieth ship sunk by U-boats in American wstem.—Aus. NX. CfaWe Association. A TRANSPORT SUNK New York, June 16. The American transport Nueee waa susk In a collision off the English Coast on May 15. There were no casualties.— fte« Assoc.