EPIC RESCUES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 155, 2 July 1940, Page 5

EPIC RESCUES.

DUNKIRK ARMADA.

THOUSAND SMALL SHIPS.

STORY THAT WILL NOT DIE.

(By Air Mail.)

LONDON, June 6.

The assembly of the Armada of Little Ships which rescued the B.E.F. and French Armies from Dunkirk was neither a miracle nor magic.

The gathering of nearly 1000 small •hips, ranging from two-seater canoes to luxury eteam yachts, was the outcome of long-sighted anticipation and eareful planning.

Months' ago a special, department of the Admiralty was set up to collect information about small vessels in case

the need for them should arise. Data • was collected about all small craft and classified into geographical flies. So when the call suddenly came for small craft to race to Dunkirk it was merely a matter of calling up the little ehips available on the east and south-east eoaste.

Officials of the Small Vessels Pool at the Admiralty worked day and night by telephone calling owners from bed and mobilising the vessels.

The ships were of two main classes, those that could run on to the beachee •nd act as ferry boats, and those of deeper draught, that made the repeated •roes-Channel journeys.

Unable to Light Cigarettes. It will be eome days yet before casualties in men and their Armada of little Ships can be checked. Broadcasting, last night Mr. K. H. Phillips, Y.MjC.A. mobile canteens' •ecretary, described how when the Nazi Bombers came thousands of men lay flat en Dunkirk beach, unable to light a cigarette, motionless, for hour after •our. As fast as men were ehipped ethers wriggled forward, flat on their 'fees, towards the water's edge, to take ft»ir turn.

Last troops to leave Dunkirk arrived at porte along the south-east coast in rowing boats, a yacht, a motor boat and a collection of other craft.

Pocket compasses were used to guide them, and officers and men took turns with the oare.

One lifeboat assumed missing was found yesterday morning tied up to the stern of a lightship off the English coast. The men, sa-ilcre and soldiers aboard had worhed many hours refloating their vessel deepite German shelling and had come up to the lighte'aip in the dark. They had enough strength to make their ship fast, but not enough then to raise a loud cry for help. So they lay down and slept. "We Are On The Way." Here are stories of the courage of the evacuation fleet mobilisation and of the work itself: — An officer sent to Lowestoft rang up to say he had eight boats, but crews for only six. While he waited on the telephone the organising officer rang up a yacht club. It -was a quarter to nine at nin-ht, and there were a few yachtemen chatting over their drinks. Back came the answer: "We are on the way.' They reached Lowestoft about a quarteV past three in the morning and set off immediately for Dunkirk. One owner whose yacht had been commandeered rang up the Admiralty to say there was £30 worth of old brandy and champagne on boavd. The Admiralty was about to apologise when the owner said. "And I hope the boys found it." Smuggled Themselves In. All sorts of people who ought not to have been there, including merchant seamen who should have been with their ships, army and naval officers on leave, and at least two Treasury officials "smuggled" themselves into the evacuation fleet. One of these Treasury officials afterwarde wrote to the Admiralty saying he had a very interesting week-end—and if there was anything doing "this weekend" would they let him know?

Offer of service by six girle was rejected. Next afternoon a gruff, mas-terly-sounding voice telephoned the,

Admiralty offering its servjfw. Again rejected. "Why?" asked the gruff voice.

"Because your sex ie against you," replied the Admiralty.

"Blast my sex!" said the voice, turning soprano. But there is reason to believe that the voice found its way into the armada.

Two youngsters who secured a motor boat with an intricate engine they could not start, got an expert to set it going and then crossed the Channel.

Two other young men turned up in frail canoes barely fit to cross the Thames.

Officials frowned, but the canoes were paddled across the Channel and saved one or two soldiers.