TO-NIGHT.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 January 1920, Page 5

TO-NIGHT.

ZEEBHUGGE AND OSTEND. At the Empire Theatre to-night, Lieut.-Commander R. Bourke, V.C., D.5.0., R.N.V.R., will tell the story of the blocking operations. Commander Bourke won his D.S.O. in the first attack on Ostend on April 23rd, when Jiia vessel, M.L. 276, rescued 38 officers and men from the blockship Brilliant as she lay aground outside the harbor, under heavy fire. On May 10th, in the second attack on Ostend, Commander Bourke won his V.Cf.

The official Gazette reads: "Lieut. Rowland Bourke, D.5.0., R.N.V.R., volunteered for rescue work, in command of ML. 276, and followed the Vindictive into Ostend, engaging the enemy's machine guns on both piers with Lewis guns. After M.L. 254 had backed out, Lieut. Bourke laid his vessel alongside the Vindictive and made further search. Finding no one, he withdrew, but, hearing cries in the water, he again entered the harbor, and, aftc-r a prolonged search, eventually found Lieut. Sir John Alleyne and two ratings, all badly wounded, in the water, clinging to an upended skiff, and rescued them. During all this time the motor launch was under a very heavy fire at close range, being hit in 55 places, once by a 8-inch shell, two of Jier small crew being killed and others wounded. The vessel was seriously damaged, and her speed greatly reduced. Lieut. Bourke, however, managed to bring her out and carry on until he fell in with a monitor, which took him in tow. This episode displayed daring and skill of a very high order, and Lieut. Bourke's bravery and perseverance undoubtedly saved the lives of Lieut. Alleyne and two of the Vindictive's crew."

The lecture to-night is very fully illustrated with 140 slides. In connection with the submarine exploits, there are photos of the submarine being towed to Zeebrngge, the submarine under the viaduct, and the crew escaping, the explosion, the viaduct before the explosion, four views of wreckage caused, and the gap in the viaduct, also photo of footbridge erected by the enemy over the gap, and a photo of Lieut. Sandford, V.C., commanding officer of the submarine, in hospital. The different types of vessels shown include monitors, destroyers, motor launches, coastal motor boats, drifters, trawlers, paddle • minesweepers, etc. There are also dirigibles and observation balloons, and the submarines Vindictive, Iris and Daffodil, which took the landing parties to the Mole. The block-ships Thetis, >Ephegema and Intrepid in Zeebrngge Channel, and the Vindictive in Ostend harbor, are * shown. The enemy defences at Ostend and Zeebrugge, and the enemy submarine shelter, and the seaplane base on the Mole, etc., etc., will also be shown.