SHIPS IN COLLISION

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 106, 7 May 1928, Page 9

SHIPS IN COLLISION

GREEK STEAMER SINKS TWELVE OF CHEW LOST lii'Ulsli Official Wireless. RUGBY, sth May. It is feared that twelve lives were lost in a head-on collision during a fog in tho English Channel yesterday, between the British Naval auxiliary vessel, Bacchus, and the Greek steamer luaunis Fafalios. Tho Bacchus, which is a Naval store carrier, was proceeding from Chatham lo Malta when the collision occurred. Tho force of tho impact threw Greek sailors who wore on deck into the sea and the hole ripped in the side of'thc loannis Fafalios caused her to sink in less than two minutes. Ton members of the crow, who wore below deck were trapped and went down with the ship with little hope of rescue. The remaining twelve were picked up in the Bacchus's boats, but two died later. Wireless messages brought assistance within fifteen minutes, and tho warships, including the battle-cruiser Tiger, the destroyer Salmon, and Admiralty tugs sot out from Portland, when news was received I hat tho Bacchus was in v sinking condition. The crew wore abandoning her, when the decision was taken to attempt to reach port under iter owji steam. She proceeded dead slow towards Portland, and was late located by Admiralty vessels and towed into harbour stem first. Crews were landed early this morning by a destroyer. An inquiryis to bo held by the Board of Trade into the collision between the two vessels and the loss of twelve of the crew of the Greek steamer.