GREAT COURAGE

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21190, 13 August 1940, Page 6

GREAT COURAGE

SINKING OF TRANSPORT | TORPEDOED IN ATLANTIC MEN’S DEVOTION TO DUTY (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, August 12 The transport Mohamed Ali ElKebir (7290 tons) was carrying troops and naval ratings, and was torpedoed in the Atlantic at night. 1 She sank in two hours. A ship near by picked up the survivors and I landed them at a Scottish port, i The 120 missing men are mostly soldiers who were in their bunks when the explosion occurred. Heavy seas made difficult the launching of the lifeboats, and a number of , soldiers who jumped overboard when the transport listed were drowned. The rescue ship continued until j late in the morning picking up troops ; who were clinging to rafts and wreck - ! age. Some of the lifeboats were I swamped. ; Mr William Olley, the ship’s canteen manager, said: “The ship’s doc- ! tor and an army doctor showed mag--1 nificent devotion to duty in attend- ! ing the injured regardless of their own safety. It was an anxious time getting the stretcher cases to the boats. Officers Missing “The captain, by his courage and calmness, inspired everybody. He ! and the two doctors, the chief officer | and chief wireless operator, are all i missing.” ; Many of the survivors were almost naked and were given new uniforms when they came ashore. Stood at Their Post The discipline observed by soldiers and naval ratings who stood shoulder to shoulder at their boat stations in perfect parade order, awaiting their turns at rescue, as the Mohammed Ali El-Kebir went down after being torpedoed, is warmly praised by the officers included among the 750 survivors of the 860 soldiers, naval men and crew on board the vessel. With some boats smashed by the explosion a few were left behind, but it was not until they were ordered to do so that they broke ranks and jumped into the sea. The Mohamed Ali El-Kebir was an Egyptian steamer owned by the Pharaonis Mail Line, and registered at Alexandria.