SHIP SCUTTLED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 January 1940, Page 5

SHIP SCUTTLED

END OF GERMAN LINER WATUSSI SHIP LOCATED BY SOUTH AFRICAN AIR FORCE. CAPTAIN'S STORY OF SINKING. The graphic story of South Africa's first air action in the war, the bombing and capture of the German liner Watussi (9500 tons) by officers of a reconnaissance air squadron, was told when the bombers returned to their base. It was a dramatic story of determination on the part of pilots of land planes far out at sea and German officers who resisted to the utmost and in the end ran up their national colours and set Are to and abandoned their ship. The action began early in the morning and lasted until late in the afternoon.

At 9 o’clock one of the planes on reconnaissance duty 100 miles south of the Peninsula sighted a ship and came down to investigate. The officers in the machine established wireless contact with the vessel, but could get no satisfactory reply to their questions, and ordered the ship to put about immediately and proceed to Simonstown.

The vessel, which would not reveal her name, failed to comply with the orders and continued on her way. Her officers were advised that failure to obey would mean that the ship would be bombed into submission. Still the vessel carried on, and as a token that they “meant business,”' the airmen released two bombs in the path of the vessel.

At once the ship began to comply with orders and her captain radioed the announcement that he had civilian passengers on board. RELIEF PLANES. Radio contact with the ship was maintained throughout, and in the meantime contact was made with the defence authorities in Cape Town and a second plane set out for the position given. Within an hour of her being challenged by the Union plane, the Watussi had put about and set her course for Simonstown with the plane circling over her. Urged to make greater speed, her captain replied that it was impossible for him to do more than, eight knots. His fuel supply was almost exhausted and all his boilers except two were out of action.

For both ship and aircraft conditions were made difficult by a strong southeast wind which raised a high sea. About two hours after the vessel was ordered back, the second plane arrived on the scene and throughout the day three planes of the squadron relieved each other at intervals of approximately three hours, while the ship below them steamed slowly in a rough sea towards Simonstown.

Despite repeated requests by radio, the captain of the ship refused to give any details of his vessel. He communicated no other information than the intimation when the first bombs were dropped that he was carrying passengers.

Throughout the day the airmen were in touch with Defence Headquarters and warned the ship's officers that they must not attempt to scuttle then ship, at the risk of being attacked with bombs and machine guns. By this time, too, one of the 'cruisers of the Africa Station was racing through the high seas towards the spot. In the meantime a drama unseen by the airmen must have been goin on on board the ship, the preparation carried on under cover of passages and alleyways for firing and abandoning the ship. Suddenly at 3.10 p.m., after having obeyed orders since her first capitulation, and when she was half way back to Simonstown, the Watussi admitted her identity and the crew prepared to scuttle the ship. SHIP ON FIRE. Simultaneously with the admission of her identity, the Nazi colours were run up and the crew gave every indication, not only of abandoning the ship, but also of firing it. Sharp orders from, the plane instructed the captain of the Watussi immediately to stop his plans or take the consequences. But the crew and passengers, who must have been at exact stations beforehand in readiness to abandon the ship with all possible speed, were seen hurrying to the lifeboats and black clouds of smoke issued from portholes and alleyways. The bomber was unable to take any action. The British cruiser was rapidly approaching the scene and the plane returned to its base. The cruiser picked up the survivors and then returned to its base. CAPTAIN'S STORY. Captain Stamer was only two willing to talk about the sinking of his ship but when the subject of his hoped-foi destination was mentioned, he said: “It wasn't Germany."

Why did you set fire to your ship instead of just opening the seacocks and letting her sink? he was asked.

“I was taking no chances, the cap tain replied.

“It is the unwritten law of the sea that the captain of a ship never allows his command to fall into enemy hands. fcl

“I received the instructions from the military aeroplane to declare myself, but realising that. I had no chance of escaping. I played for time. I refused to give Ute name of my ship, but obeyed the instructions to proceed to Simonstown. Meanwhile. I prepared to sink the Watussi. The crew were ordered to provision the lifeboats for two weeks, and lhe motor boat for five weeks. The passengers were mustered on deck.

“When everything was ready, and there was no danger to life by abandoning the ship, I gave the order to haul up the German flag and for the passengers and crew in the lifeboats to be swung overboard. Shortly before

giving this order, the seacocks had been opened and the passenger's quarters set on fire. DIE CAST. “I knew from the experienced of the French liner, Paris, that the best place Ito set fire to a liner was the wood--panelled passenger cabins and corridors. “When the aeroplane circling overhead ordered me to recall the boats, or bear the consequences, it was too late to turn back. The die was cast. The ship was blazing below decks. In any case, I would not have turned back, for I was determined that my ship should not be captured. “Wo were only in the lifeboats for an. hour before we were all picked up by a British warship. We could not have been better treated by the Royal Navy. The captain stood me a drink — and believe me 1 needed it —and lhe passengers were all given coffee and food. Nor were my crew forgotten. They received every attention possible."