FIGHTING THE SUBMARINES.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16398, 18 December 1918, Page 10

FIGHTING THE SUBMARINES.

LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER SANDERS' DEATH.

(SPECIAL TO "THE FHESi.") AUCKLAND. December 17. Publication of full details regarding the action in which Lieutenant-Com-mander "W. E. Sanders, V.C., 3>.5.0., met. his death cn August 14th. 1017, has now been made possible for the first time by the lifting of the naval censorship. The information given bv'Mr EIT. C. Sanders, of Tiikapuna lather of tho late tenders, is contained in a letter from the Admiralty, written on December 14th of last year, and tent witli the request that the contents be regarded as confidontial. . No ofiicial information has as yet been received by .Mr Sanders as to the particular deed of gallantry__for which his sou was awarded the \ .C. '1 he letter is as follows : —

"Account of the sinking of IF.M.S. Prize, Lieutenant-Commander W. K. Sanders, R.N.R,,'by an enemy submarine on August 14tb, 1917. At 1'.30 n.m. a man-of-war was in company with the Prize, decoy sailing ship, on August 13th, when at 3.50 p.m. the Prize hoisted a. signal indicating 'Enemy to port,' and hove-to. Firo was opened on the Prize. and shots, could be seen falling near her, although tho submarine 'with which sho was engaged was not seen. Tho Prize had hoisted tho "White Ensign, her guns wero peon manned, and she was ready to attach, but it was difficult for the ship in company to make out anything, as there was a considerable mist that night. However, at 9 o'clock, when tho two ships had an opportunity to talk, the Prize garo her some details of the action. In the afternoon tho submarine had been sighted in (latitude and longitude given) the Atlantic, north-west of Ireland, about two miles off, three points before the port beam. She dived after firing a few shots, and appeared again on the starboard side. The Prize opened fire at 200 yards, and Lieutenant-Com-mander Sanders thought ho had got five shols home. The enemy submarine appeared to sink, or, at any rate, disappeared.

"After this communication tlie sliip in company drew off and took fetation astern of tlie Prize. The night was dark and equally. Thn Prizo was ahead, her outline just visible. About 1.30 a.m. a heavy explosion was heard, and the Prizo was soen to heel over to port, and disappeared in a,, few seconds. Nothing could be seen of Lor with glasses or with the naked eye. A torpedo had struck her, and eho must have sunk almost immediately. ,T!ie accompanying ship passed closo to tho' position whero the Prize had disappeared, and remained thero somo time, but nothing could] be. soen or heard in the dark,and atorm. As soon as driy broke, 5.15 a.m., careful search of the position -was made, but nothing further was seen. "The. Prize had fought gallant actions with submarines on April 30fch and-June 13th. 1917. She was sunk on August) 14th in the Atloatic on a dark and/ stormy night, and her gallant commander, Lieutenant-Commander W. . 33. Sanders, who in a short five months had'been, awarded the V.C. and D.5.0., went-down with her beneath the Atlan-tic-waves, leaving his name to "be imperishably inscribed on tho same roll of naval history where.stand the names of Blake, Nelson, and I'iou."