ON THE SEAS.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15192, 2 February 1915, Page 7

ON THE SEAS.

TOKOMARU SUNK.

TORPEDOED OFF HAVRE

THE CREW SAVED.

LONDON, January 31

The Shaw-Savill steamer Tokomaru, carrying New Zealanders' gifts to the Belgians, -was blown up off Havre. The crew wore saved. PARIS, January 31. It is officially stated that a German submarine, without notice, torpedoed • the Tokomaru and tho fcaria. The letter was towed to Havre. Tho Tokomaru sank in an hour and a half. A trawler saved the crew of o7 officers and men. HOW THE TOKOMARU WAS SUNK. VESSEL NEARLY STATIONARY. (Received February Ist. 9.5 p.m.) LONDON. February 1. The Tokomaru wa s practically stationary, .and was waiting for a pilot. The crew were finishing breakfast. The explosion resulted in a heavy list to port. Everyone was in the boats in fifteen minutes. Meanwhile three French trawlers appeared. When the boats left tho Tokomaru she had her stern above the water and her forward decks were awash. .She slid gently to tho bottom in a vertical • position. The trawlers took the crew to Havre, where they hoard that two other cargo vessels had been torpedoed, one of which had sunk and the other had been brought into Havre with decks awash.

Daniel Grinder, of tho Tokomaru, states that ho -was forward in the refrigerating engine-room at nine on Saturday morning, when he heard a terrific explosion, apparently undorneath v where lie was standing. The shock shifted the engine from its bedplates and a great volume of water flooded the engine-room from above. Tho chip heeled over to port, . When ho renched the deck the hands were getting out the port-side boats. There was ho panic. There was no sign of the submarine, though, the third officer l:ad previously seen a periscope. Few of the crew had any clothes except vest and trousers. The sea was calm, and the boats were able to etand by while the ship was heeling over. Captain Green was last to leave.

Tho shock deranged the 'wireless apparatus and the operator received several shocks while sending the "5.0.5." call, but got into touch ivith the steamer Asttirms.