AUSTRALIAN MAIL BOAT SUNK BY MINE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 50, 28 February 1916, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN MAIL BOAT SUNK BY MINE.

LOSS OF P. AND 0. CRACK STEAMER MALOJA OFF DOVER. RESCUING CRAFT ALSO SENT TO THE BOTTOM B*ir A MINE. --a» _.■._-'..-.'..'. '..:,■:. '.:; ~ . •.. ■'■'.. r " •..'•. ':'■'■ ■■ - (Received 9.5 a.m\j.-*. """'. r.;. '"'"'...' ''".': . LONDON, February-27.. -; The P; and 0. Company's steamer.Maloja, which was bound from: Londonto India with passengers and mails, struck .a mine off Dover, and sank. ,3 It was at first believed that all the passengers and; crew were rescued, but 25 bodies have been brought ashore at Dover.'. : The Newcastle-owned steamer Empress of Fort William, a vessel of 2,000 tons, struck a mine while endeavouring to rescue the people on the Maloja. The rescuing vessel sank, but the crew were picked up. ' There were 140 passengers on board the-Maloja,. Survivors state that there was a terrific explosion when the vessel struck the mine. Scores of vessels at once raced to the scene as soon, as wireles mesages were sent- out. MAJORITY OF THE PASSENGERS HAVE BEEN SAV|D, (Received 11.2~.pjn,} •, y LONDON, February 27. It is officially announced that the majority of.the Maloja's passengers were saved. # - - The Empress of Fort William, that was sunk while assisting in the rescue of the Mal.oja'B .passengers, was bound to Dunkirk with coal. She,sank in half-an-hour. "'"". : -'-■■:"■':-' - ! ::.:-:ir • '.

Tlje P. aad'O. Company's steamer Maloja, was the largest and finest of tbe magnificent "M" class, so well known in Auckland during ,the..geriod7that. the company maintained its splendid service between this port "and "Europe. She was-a vessel of 12;431 tons.-'She was in- Sydney "at the end of December, and had only completed her trip Home oh the 7th "of this month.