ON THE ARMED LINER MACEDONIA

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2448, 29 April 1915, Page 7

ON THE ARMED LINER MACEDONIA

A NEW ZEALANDER'S EXPERIENCE. At the- time of the declaration of war, Mr. Ernest Victor Lodder, of Wellihgton (late of the Gear Meat Company), was fourth engineer of the Star of Ireland, homeward bound after his third trip across the Atlantic. He decided to offer his services to the Admiralty, and he was posted to the auxiliary " cruiser Macedonia, which was sent to the South Atlantic Ocean, where one or two exciting incidents were experienced. First, an attempt to torpedo the Macedonia was made by the German cruiser Karlslirue, but as the P. and 0. vessel was cruising round in circles awaiting H.M.S. Bristol there was no difficulty in avoiding the projectile. Several smaller brushes were to follow, but tho biggest event was the great naval battle. Mr. Lodder writes of this important event: Wo arrived at the islands at 8 a.m. on December 7, and started coaling. Wo. coaled all that night, and at 9 a.m. on the Bth we heard two loud shots in the distance, and sent the lookouts to the top of the masts. They could see nothing, so we thought it was one of our own ships target firing, and we continued to coal. At 11 a.m., two hours later, there were two more distinct shots, and this time wo could see seven German ships making for tho islands. Wo stopped coaling, and.got ready immediately for action. Half an hour later we were steaming full speed after the enemy, and wo caught them up in three hours, and started a battle royal. In three hours after tho first shot was fired we had sunk six out of the* seven German ships. The Macedonia had two auxiliary crmsors to fight, and did well by sinking both of them. Our ship was hit only 20 times, twice under the watcrline. Mr. Lodder was wounded in 17 placcs, and had a sreat many stitches put into his logs and thighs. Ho is now staying with an aunt at f.eith. and. he will remain there till thoroughly convalescent. In all probability lie will go back to Now Zealand toward the er.d of the year, and if lie war is not. then concluded he