FAILD TO STOP.

Auckland Star, 4 September 1939, Page 10

FAILD TO STOP.

BRITISH STEAMER. SHOTS FIRED ACROSS BOWS. SIGNAL NOT UNDERSTOOD. (By Telp'srnph- Press Aswoclnfion.) WELLINGTON. Sunday. Two shots were tired across the bows of a British steamer off the entrance to Wellington Heads this morning when it failed to heed a signal given by an examination ster.iner to heave to. It was later explained that the vessel failed to stop because the signal had not been understood. An official explanation of the incident when the steamer approached Wellington early this morning an examination steamer was on duty at the enhance to the port.. The latter was flying an examination service ting, which is a rectangular red, white and blue Wag of special pattern 10ft by St't. 1 he approaching steamer took no notice of the examination steamer and did not reply to the examining officer's hail, but proceeded without apparently rediiciii" speed. The examining olliecr. therefore, had no option but to signal the examination battery to bring life vessel to or «top it, which is normally effected by tiring a round of plugged shell across the bows. In this case a second round was necessary bclore the older was understood and obeyed. The examining officer then boarded the nwel and was informed that his signals had not been understood. Examination services are established in times of emergency nt the principal Briti-h ports all over the world, and the Admiralty draws special attention to this in a notice to mariners published annually. '1 he notice contains this paragraph:—"As the institution of an examination service will probably be unknown to vessels desiring to enter port, especial care should lie taken in approaching ports by day or night to keep a sharp look-out for any venscl carrying the flags or lights mentioned in paragraph (7), and to be ready to bring to at once when hailed by it or warned by the firing of a gun or the sound of a rockft. In approaching bv night any port in the British Empire serious delay and risk will be avoided if four efficient all round lanterns, two red and two ■white, are kept available for use.''