SMART SEAMANSHIP.
TKiVNSPOr.T SA72D. KLtZTT, HOST. London, Oetobor '-j—Only ui American naval oScer's umari'seaiaauship ;:nd quick decision saved a liner from destruction and avoided a. heavy loss of life among troops that packed tlio ship, when she wsa in' collision J few days ago with a torpedo-boat' destroyer. The commander of tlio de-jtroyor sacrificed his own vessel.
The destroyer was eceortiog thi liner, and \?u,s, according to cuutom, 'Ag-zagg-ing ahead oi her The wsrahip xvac just about to make a sharp turn close to the liner's bow. vheu hey 'steering .;ear jammed.
The situation was critical Tuciv was just a chance that the destroyer had speed enough to get twoiy thb liner's course, but the penalty oi I'o.iluro v/ould have been tremendous. She would have crashed into the liner with all her momentum, and the result must have been disastrous. The' destroyer might have sunk the liner, but, even if she did not do that, she must have wrought havoc among the soldiers that crowded her decks. WEXt THROUGH WARSHIP. All this flashed through tlio mind of that commander, and he saw that lie could not take the risk, There w0.3 only ono other course possible, and that he took on the instant He gave an order for full-speed astern, ar.d hoped that his engines would be strong enou'fh to •itop the destroyer's headway and pull her back.from under the liiier't bovn;. The commander was sufficiently successful to avoid "running into the "liner himself, but he couid not extricate his craft. The liner hit her full and ploughed right through her. She cut off the destroyer's bow as clean as if w had been done with a knife, and went on' her own way entirely undamaged. Fortunately the liner hit the destroyer forward of her collision bulkheads, and her stability was not destroyed.. She not only remained afloat, but Tvas able to steam oh end, cautiously, vt ij true, but, safely. Much of her top-hamper was carried . away, including her colors, but a sailor jumped overboard sad rescued them. Steaming at about five knots, the destroyer 'wag tb!c to laaLe sa Engli. h port unaided,
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Taranaki Daily News, 4 January 1919, Page 8
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355SMART SEAMANSHIP. Taranaki Daily News, 4 January 1919, Page 8
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