SHELLED IN THE NIGHT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 70, 3 January 1941, Page 5

SHELLED IN THE NIGHT

SINKING OF THE RANGITANE.

NO PANIC AMONG PASSENGERS

SYDNEY, January 2

Describing the sinking of the Rangitane, a survivor said: “Suspicious vessels were sighted on the night of November 26. Almost as soon as the wireless operator had been ordered to send a message to this effect two of the raiders opened fire.” With more, than 100 passengers on hoard, the Rangitane, with enemy searcliligjlits playing on her, was severely shelled. There were casualties, but there was no panic among the passengers. “Fires were started,” he added. “We wore making water pretty fast, and 12 boats were lowered. Two had been damaged. “Eventually prisoners were taken on board each of the raiders. The Rangitane resisted the shelling and heeled over only after time-bombs had been placed pn board.” One captain kept a diary of liis stay on the prison ship after the capture. He said that one German ship carried a complete recording plant and used it to record prisoners’ comments for propaganda purposes. On November 27 he wrote: “An alarm was sounded. The big guns forward began firing. The prize officer told me the Rangitane had been taken. “The Rangitane/s captain and officers were berthed with Us. I learned that .12 or 13 lives had been lost in the shelling of their ship. Two days later the women and children from the Rangitane and Holmwood were transferred to another raider and replaced by 40 members of the Rangitane’s crew. .“Six days after the Holmwood was shelled the Germans said that before the crews would be released they would have to sign a declaration acknowledging that the penalty would he death if they were taken prisoner on an armed vessel again during*bhe war. “A gramophone l'ecoi’d was made of questions and answers about the cargo seized from the Holmwood and Rangitane, and about conditions on the pri-. son ship.” ,