HUMANE EFFORT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 October 1940, Page 5

HUMANE EFFORT

BY BRITISH FLYING-BOAT ON BEHALF OF ITALIAN SEAMEN. HOSPITAL SHIP GUIDED TO RESCUE. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 17. The action of the pilot and crew of a Sunderland flying-boat after the engagement of H.M.S. Ajax on October 12 provides an instance of ish humanity toward a foe who has suffered grave losses. When on patrol over the Mediterranean the pilot ot the flying-boat saw a ship in the distance. Cautious investigation revealed that she was the Italian hospital ship Aquilega. The Sunderland resumed patrol work. Two or three miles away a vast patch of oil at least five miles square was seen and floating in it, in addition to masses of small wreckage, were five or six carley floats and two boats, one of which had been swamped and was in a sinking condition. The pilot immediately turned back toward the hospital ship, which was still on its former course northbound for Italy, and with a lamp flashed the message: "Ships floats below us.” The Sunderland then circled the wreckage, and dived two or • three times to direct the ship s attention to them. Although no word was signalled back from the hospital ship, she suddenly altered course and steered toward the floats and wreckage. A few minutes later the crew of the flying-boat saw her lowering a white motor dinghy which quickly drew up to one of the carley floats. The Sunderland then resumed her normal patrol.