THE KUMARA AND THE "SUBS."

Taranaki Daily News, 27 September 1919, Page 3

THE KUMARA AND THE "SUBS."

THE LINER SCORED. The well-known New Zealand trader Kumara, which is at present discharging American coal at Port Chalmers, has had her submarine experiences. She had three encounters with them, and came out of it unscathed. Captain Kidman and Chief Officer Hyde know the story from experience, but it is not easy to get them to tell it. The first submarine encounter commenced at 0.15 a m. on Sunday, April 7th, 1917. The Kumara was on her thirty-eighth voyage at the time.; She had steamed round from London to join a convoy of 38 ships at Plymouth, these steamers being bound for New York to bring food back to the United Kingdom, The convoy left Plymouth at 3 o'clock in the afternoon on the date in question, and the high winds and heavy seas they encountered did not facilitate the manoeuvring of the fleet of big, empty steamers into sustained convoy order. Big steamers are not always remarkable for good steering qualities. A convoy 'of them doesn't improve matters, especially the first night out together. About 8.15 o'clock that evening the guide ship of this convoy sent up a green light signal, which caused the rest of the steamers to "swing ship," and they all altered their courses simultaneously. They afterwards discovered that the green light hud been but portion of a 'more extended signal, this extended signal being intended to be used to warn the convoy that the guide ship had been attacked by a subr mne. The guide «hip in this case was actually attach by a "sub" (as the sailors call the U boats); but before the signal to that effect could be completed the exploding torpedo had .struck her, putting the wireless, as well &A the other signalling system, out of action before the signal was completed. As it was, the incomplete signal merely indicated that a sub. had been sighted.

After a time Captain Kidman deemed it unwise to continue further on the altered course, and the course prior to the signal was reverted to. Tlje circumstances were difficult, because of the absence of further convoy signals. It was shortly atter this that the Kumara was attacked. The bo'sun saw the submarine, and the third officer jammed the helm hard over, and immediately called the captain, who ordered all jiands to their stations, the gun crews manning the two howitzers and the 4.7. Three minutes after the "sub." was sighted fire was opened. The port howitzer sent a shot right .over the,submarine, the latter letting loose a torpedo as the gun fired.. The Kumara was •swinging round on her hard-over helm meanwhile, and fortunately, too. The torpedo missed her bow, according to the version of the lookout man, by six feet. The look-out said afterwards that for a few moments lie did not know whether to remain .where he was or run aft along the deck; but he decided that his duty was to remain where he was, despite the fact that a big torpedo was fooling round the steamer's stem. The continued swinging of the ship soon gave the 4-7 gun at. the stern an opportunity to join issue with the port howitzer; but at the same time this swinging of the ship made the shooting less easy than if the steamer had been stationary or on a straight course.* Nevertheless, th<> shell? were falling near the "sub." ■Presently the swerving of the steamer brought the submarine on the starboard Huarter, and the starboard howitzer also opened fire. The first shot was a little wide, but in line. The second shot went a little over. At the third shot the submarine disappeared in a huge column of water, and was not seen again. Before she met her doom the "sub," must have fired another torpedo, for the third officer and the gunner saw it, pass very close to the Kumara's stern. The men stood by the guns and magazines until 11 p.m., when the commander assumed that the ship was clear of further danger from the submarine

The Kumora had two subsequent submarine experiences. On Wednesday, October 23rd, at 0 a.m., a •übmarine was sighted while the. steamer was on her way from Gibraltar to the River Plate. Ten shots were 'fired from the 4./,-but the conditions were not favorable, for only the periscope was visible above water, and the ship herself was steering a_ zig-zag course. The guns were firing'at extreme range. At 10 a.m. the perWwpc was IK> j ori g er visible." Thinking that the "sub." had perhaps submerged in order to approach closer under witter, Captain Kidman changed she steamer's course at right angles, so as to iHistrate any further attack calculated on bearings taken bv the submarine when submerging. Both watches were down in the -trader's stokehold helping her to hurry jjway at top speed. This submarine was not seen again, but another one was sighted at 10" minutes .past i(]idday. The 4.7 and the starboard howitzer got to work, and kept "Fritz" from close quarters. Then the port howitzer opened lire, and the second shot fell right irt front of the U boat. She disappeared; but as no explosion Look place it was assumed that she had divedwas the last seen of submarines from the Kumara. When she readied the River Plate the glad news of the armistice ended the trying submarine tension.