NO PANIC

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 November 1939, Page 5

NO PANIC

SINKING OF THE TERUKUNI MARU ALL ON BOARD SAVED. THREE PERSONS INJURED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, November 21. The sinking by a German mine, of the Japanese liner, Terukuni Maru, off the East Coast of England, was seen from a hill. A thousand people saw the explosion and watched the ship founder, and those aboard rescued. Great volumes of water rose high in the air. Lifeboats and other craft rushed to the scene. The passengers and crew were brought ashore in relays. It is officially confirmed that all on board were saved. Only three persons were injured. They included a British woman of 70, who was thrown down on the floor of the saloon. The passengers included 13 Britons. Six auxiliary craft, a pilot ship, and lifeboats participated in the rescue work.

The liner sank bow first. The stern lifted high our of the water and remained there for 15 minutes before the vessel sank, and it had disappeared entirely 40 minutes after the explosion.

Passengers said that there was no panic. The ship heeled over when the explosion occurred. All went on deck and saw trawlers and lifeboats hurrying to the scene. Everybody was taken off without even welting their feet.

It is revealed that the Terukuni Maru was due last week, but was held up off the coast. She was a twinscrew vessel belonging to the Nippon Yusen Company, and was bijilt at Nagasaki in 1930. She was 507 feet long and 64 feet broad, and had a depth of 37 feet. She was the first of the company’s motor-propelled vessels, and at the time of launching set a new standard in luxurious accommodation in the-London Yokohama trade.