"THE EAGLE UNDER THE NEA"

New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 49, 31 May 1940, Page 23

"THE EAGLE UNDER THE NEA"

How A Polish Submarine Escaped

drums rolled out over Europe for the second time in a-quarter of a century. Poland once more trembled under heavy guns and marching feet. In those early days, many strange adventures happened, but none more dramatic than the escape and remarkable journey of the Polish submarine’ " Orzel." "Orzel" is the Polish word for " Eagle,’ and "The Eagle Under the Sea" is the title of a radio drama of real life more stirring than many in fiction. This dramatic feature, first broadcast in the overseas transmissions of the BBC and recorded in London, was flown out to New Zealand, and will receive its first presentation in this country at 8 p.m. on Tuesday evening, June 4, from 2YA Wellington. That it is authentic you may be sure, for it was made with the help of actual members of the submarine’s crew and the advice of the British Admiralty; and was written and produced by Stephen Potter. iz September last year the war The Story Begins The story begins shortly after the outbreak of war, in Tallinn, the neytral port of Estonia. There is a bustle of business on the waterfront, and the harbour is nearly full. Then a German vessel sails. Shortly afterwards fresh excitement is caused by the appearance of a strange vessel coming through the entrance. It turns out to be the Polish submarine "Orzel." A lieutenant aboard her discovers an Estonian friend, and in the course of conversation between the two it is disclosed that the submarine is slightly damaged, and in need of repairs, ‘The commander, however, is anxious to get away. Suddenly a new arrival on board causes some consternation; it is the officer of the Port Authority, who declares, citing Internationa] Law, that as a German vessel has recently quitted Tallinn, the ‘" Orzel" must wait for twenty-four hours.

In twenty-four hours’ time, just as the submarine, now repaired, is about to sail, the officer of the Port appears again, this time with an order of internment: the vessel must be relieved of torpedoes, small arms and ammunition. The work of disarming her begins, but meanwhile the Commander has decided on a daring plan of escape. Desperate as the attempt appears-for the charts and all except six torpedoes have already been takenthe submarine’s company receives the idea with enthusiasm. The watchful Port Officer is kidnapped and taken below, and at midnight, the Polish eagle sails slowly out, occasionally picked out by searchlights, and begins. an arduous journey. Days of Anxiety There follow many days of anxiety; the Commander is determined to make good the escape of his submarine, which had been bought by public subscription among hundreds of his countrymen. The "Orzel" has to spend hours submerged while German destroyers search and drop depth charges. On the 28th day, near the Kattegat, they are almost caught by destroyers, but their luck holds, and they slip through a narrow channel into the North Sea. There are more anxious days, during which they wait in vain for a wireless reply from England to their messages. The water supply is almost exhausted, and food is now something to dream about. But suddenly, when the men are beginning to wonder if after all the hardships they have passed through, they will live to tell the tale, the long-awaited message from the English comes crack‘ling in-‘ We will await you in the following position." The rendezvous is kept, thanks to brilliant seamanship on the part of the Polish Commander, and amid cheers and laughter and toasts, the Poles and the English sailors make friends. All this is dramatised in " The Eagle Under the Sea."