The Daily News. MONDAY, JULY 1, 1918. THE WIMMERA.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 July 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, JULY 1, 1918. THE WIMMERA.

Two such disasters as the loss of the Port Kembla and the Wimmera in New Zealand waters bring home to us the horrors of the war. There is little doubt that both, these vessels struck mines, v. itli dire results. The Wolf is knowi to have laid mines in the track of the vessels between Auckland and Sydney, and in the direction of Cook Strait. Although the naval authorities have been taking steps to sweep up these mines, and vessels were actually engaged in the operation near the scene of the Wiminera disaster, unfortunately that vessel struck two, and sank in about a quarter of an hour. There may still be some mines left to do their deadly work, but it is to be hoped that the clearing process will speedily render navigation safe. Although it did not require these outrages to indicate the intense ruthlessness and brutality of the Germans, the sinking of these two fine vessels emphasises in a most tragic manner how essential it is to deprive the Huns of the ability to perpetuate such devilry. Up to the time of the loss of the Port Kembla the highways of the sea in the vicinity of the Dominion had, thanks to the British and Japanese navies, been free from enemy maehinations, but when the "Wolf slipped through the Allied patrols she entered upon a career of piracy far and wide, and left behind her a trail of mines sown in the trading routes of the British Dominions. How it has come to pass that only two vessels have been destroyed out of the large number coming to and going from New Zealand, causes considerable wonder, as well as thankfulness. The loss of the Port Kembla and Wimmera must be regarded as war incidents, but none the less they are deeply to be deplored. The narratives of the Wimmera's survivors contain instances of that heroism which is a heritage of our race, and is especially thrilling when exhibited, as in the case of the Wimmera, by women. The sad part is the loss of lives; and it seems only too probable that sixteen of the crew and ten passengers, who are missing, have found a grave in the depths of the ocean. The captain, true to the traditions of the service, remained on the ship to the last, and, with Col. Graham, went down with her when she disappeared beneath the waves. The loss of these valuable lives will be deeply deplored, and the advent of the day of reckoning should he expedited by .an additional impetus to win through to victory, and thus put an end to the intolerable Hun menace. At the same tune, we must be thankful that the disaster did not entail a great- : er loss than the accounts reveal.