ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 January 1919, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

AMERICAN TRANSPORT ON FIRE. Received Jan. 2, 2.5 p.m. New York, Jan. 1. A transport of the northern Pacific, carrying 2100 wounded Americans, is on fire. The vessel is not endangered.— Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

VICTIM OF SUBMARINES. MAMMOTH LINER SUNK. FIGHT LASTS 24 HOURS. An interesting account of the Sinking of the mammoth liner Justicia in July last, after an exciting fight, lasting 24 hours, with enemy submarines, is given by Mr. H. T. Hone, who was an officer on the Justicia at the time and who is •now piirser of the White Star liner Runic, which is lying at Queen's Wharf. Mr Hone was on the steamer Lapland when she was torpedoed some time before.

■ The Justicia, a,new steamer of 32,000 tons, was attacked a;bout 60 miles from the English coast, while on her eighth voyage to New York. The first torpedo 'hit the ship amidships about 3.30 p.m., I destroying the machinery and bringing the vessel to a stop. There were at least twelve submarines in the vicinity, and the British , destroyers were kept busy locating the position of the enemy by tracing the tracks of the torpedoes. The gunners on the Justicia did good work in hitting and exploding several torpedoes speeding towards the,steamer. At lease four submarines were destroyed by depth charges dropped by tie destroyers, and 50 German survivors were picked up. Four powerful tugs arrived on the scene about 5 p.m., and took the Justicia in tow, travelling at about four knots. The submarines persistently attempted to sink the steamer, but, though the darkness hampered the destroyers in their operations, the efforts of the enemy failed. One torpedo just missed the Justiciar stern, and another went right under the keel. Owing to the danger of further torpedoes striking home, all hands, numbering 600, were called on deck, and at 9 p.m. the trawlers took off many of the men.- The weather was comparatively fine, but there M as a heavy swell.

At 10 a.m. the following day, when the Justic-ia had been towed over 20 miles, two torpedoes struck her in the bow These hits completed the destruction of the vessel, for she commenced to settle down, and the tugs had to cast off the mooring?. All hands remaining on the liner were removed, and the Justieia sank in deep water nearly a day after being ■first torpedoed.