THE WAHINE.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16758, 14 February 1920, Page 8

THE WAHINE.

WHAT SHE DID IN THE WAR,

('special to "the press.")

DUNEDIX, February 13. The career of the Union Company's turbine steamer AValiino during the war makes interesting reading. On arrival in England she was placed in dock in London, and guns were mounted, and the shij> was adapted for service under the Vice-Admiral of the. Eastern Mediterranean.

j The New Zealand crow, with the ex--1 ocption nf some members of the provis dore staff, were returned to the Dominion, and the Union Company's master, Contain A. M. Edwin, and the officers and engineers who went to England in the ship, were pi veil commissions in the Iloyal .Naval Reserve, and their services retained. A naval crew then joined, and the "Wahine was commissioned as one of His Majesty's ships. Under the White Ensign tho ship left London and proceeded to Mudros via , Gibraltar and Malta. After arriving j at Mudros, it was decided to employ ; . the ship running between that base and . Malta, to carry naval passengers, all , ranks and ratings, despatches, mails, . stores, etc. , In a remarkably short space of time . the Wahino became the best-known ship m those parts, and was renowned for \ her speedy and regular passages. After several months of* this work the I \Vahmo was recalled to England, and there fitted for the strenuous work of ! a mine-layer. At this stage of her ; career a. naval captain experienced in . mine-laying, took command of the ship, ; and ho brought with him his own staff I of naval officers and crew. The &hip took part in 76 mining operations, and laid 11,378 mines without mishap. The scene, of action was all round the English coast, and the I North Sea and across to Heligoland Bight. At the time of the signing of the armistice the Wahine was in the Firth of Forth. She was then laid up, and a little later was sent to tho Clyde to bo reconditioned by tho builders." [Captain A. M. Edwin, who took the YYahine to England, and who was in command of her during the early part of her war service, brought her back to Now Zealand. Her chief engineer is Mr Ernest E. Low, formerly second engineer, who, as an Engineer-Com-mander, E.N.R., served in her throughout The whole of the war, and was awarded tho IXS.O."]