NINE TIMES HIT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 123, 27 May 1941, Page 7

NINE TIMES HIT

EGYPTIAN STEAMER Graphic Story Of Sinking Of Zamzam By Raider United Press Association.—Copyright. LONDON, May 26. According to the Siarritz correspondent of the British United Press, Mr. J. V. Murphy, one of the survivors of the steamer Zamzam, who is also one of the editors of the American magazine "Fortune," vividly described the sinking of the vessel.

"We were four days out from Capetown," said Mr. Murphy, "when the raider attacked us just before dawn on April 17. Nine shells hit the ship. The master. Captain Smith, attempted to make a signal, but the ships blinker was shattered. He ordered the Egyptian flae to be unfurled, grabbed a hand-torch and began signalling himself. "The firing ceased, but nine persons had been badly wounded and many others hurt. There was utter confusion on board. A number of men, women and children swam around in the water for over 20 minutes before they were picked up. Fortunately the sea was calm.

"Members of the American Ambulance Brigade dived overboard and towed pieces of floating wreckage to women and children to help them to keep afloat. Everyone was taken on board the raider by 7.30 a.m.

"The raiders captain expressed regret about the shelling. Next day all except two wounded Americans and one wounded Englishman were transferred to the merchant ship, whose captain was not so polite. He declared m English: Any monkey business. and we answer with machine-guns.' The survivors were aboard the merchantman for .19 days before they were landed at St. Jean <ie 1 aw., on the Atlantic coast of France."

The Zamzam. an Egyptian steamer, had on board a total of people, including 23 Canadians and 112 Americans. It was understood that the passengers included American ambulance drivers and 36 American Catholic missioners bound for Central Africa. The cargo included trucks, automobiles and machinery marked witn the Rags of nonbelligerent countries and Egypt. The British-American ambulance corps <>n board the Zamzam was destined for the I-'ree French forces in the Middle East. The equipment included over 20 vehicles, together with a field kitchen and an X-ray trailer. The vehicles were manned by 2! Americans, all of them either doctors or male nur-e drivers.

The Zamzam left New York on March 20 and had not been heard of -incc she called at a Brazilian port.