TORPEDOED IN CHANNEL.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 August 1918, Page 2

TORPEDOED IN CHANNEL.

SURVIVORS-OP THE KYAERA. Auckland, July 2i). An officer of the ';A.U.S.N. Company's KyaTra, which was torpedoed in the English Channel on May 20th, in an interview here, stated that the vessel was to have gone from London to Australia with Australian troops. She was going down the Channel when a terrific explosion occurred in the engine-room, and the vessel immediately started to settle down Steam pipes were blown out, and the stokehold crew wore killed by the explosion and the inrush of water. Five minutes after the torpedo struck her the Kyarra filled. The starboard boats were lowered and the crow embarked. The vessel sank fourteen minutes after being iiit. The crew lost all their personal effects, but they were dressed. All were landed safely.

Fourteen officers and ' men of the Kyarra arrived hy the Mokura, en route for Australia.

There were on hoard an army Burgeon, adjutant, quartermaster,, and 40 Army Medical Corps, orderlies. The. fifth engineer was killed in the stokehold. The third and fourth officers (Messrs Torquay and [Beck) left foy another steamer for Australia. The crew are returning (by another vessel. The officers returning now are: Capt. Donovan; chief officer, Wihite; se<K)nd officer, Stills;- fifth officer, Bailey; wireless operators, Mancer, Bettinge, and Hardy; engineers, Kilpatrlck, Wharton, Cour.y, Xorman, Marshall, and Watt; ■ elcctrican, Tonics.