HOSPITAL SHIP OUTRAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 10, 11 January 1918, Page 5

HOSPITAL SHIP OUTRAGE.

NO PANIC ABOARD. RED CROSS USED AS TARGET. LONDON, January 10. VVljen the hospital ship Rewa was sunk in the Bristol Channel there were 550 aboard all told, including the complement of wounded. Excellent order was maintained after the vessel was struck. The calm sea and the nearness of hundreds of other vessels contributed to the rescue. Bouts were lowered, and the cot ca6es safely disembarked. The vessel 6ank in 79 minutes. Within two hours all were picked up. ' A member of the crew states: "We had just entered the Bristol Channel after a bad voyage. Suddenly there was a terrific bang, and the crew were thrown out of their bunks. The concussion extinguished the lights. There was no time to save personal belongings. Magnificent order prevailed. We had 250 wounded. These were put first into the boats; then came tiie iiurscs, followed by the crew. The weather was not cold. A tank steamer tuid patrol boat took us to Swansea. We dirt not Buffer much discomfort."

Other accounts show that the Germans used the Red Cross as a target. The torpedo passed clean through it. The Laecnrs werp probably killed by the cxpjosion. The ship was only travelling at four knots. It was a most effective shot, not leaving a chance of saving the vessel. Men in their bunks, suddenly awakened, made a dash for the deck. In other cases there was a wild groping in the darkness for some sort of clothing. Most of them landed absolutely without clothing.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)