STORM DAMAGE IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22305, 20 January 1938, Page 12

STORM DAMAGE IN BRITAIN

♦: THIRTY LIVES LOST AT WEEK END NAVAL OIL TANKER BROUGHT TO PORT (BRITISH •FrlCli.l. WIEBLB3S.) RUGBY, January 18. The toil of life on land and sea during the week-end gale exceeded 30. Defences against the sea were washed away during the night at Aberystwyth, and further serious damage was done to houses on the promenade. Exceptionally high spring tides caused flooding in many coastal towns and river estuaries. Watchers were on duty along the Thames during the night. The spring tide was the highest since 1928 because of the piling up of water in the estuary by the gale, but the river remained within its banks.

The destroyer Wolverine, which went to the assistance in the Atlantic of the 11,000 tons Royal Fleet auxiliary oil tanker War Bahadur, which had her bridge, wireless aerial, and boats swept away, escorted the vessel into Plymouth Sound. There were no casualties.

The War Bahadur was navigated fcr 300 miles from her engine-room, and made Plymouth under her own steam. Her master said they were lucky to be alive after five days’ tremendous straits, and with little or no sleep. The Aquitania. which was due at Southampton from New York today, has been delayed by heavy weather in the Atlantic.