THE ERLANGEN

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 21, 25 January 1940, Page 14

THE ERLANGEN

HOW SHE REACHED CHILE

WOOD FUEL AND MUCH SAILING

(From "The Post's". Representative.)

VANCOUVER, January 3.

On the day war broke out, the North German Lloyd freighter Erlangen, 6000 tons, was proceeding from New Zealand to Australia, to coal. She immediately turned eastward, heading for South America. She put in at an island in the South Seas, and the crew were set to work cutting down trees for fuel.

At first the. wood was rowed to the ship in her four lifeboats, but it was soon realised that it wjtmld take months to provide a sufficient supply by this means. The ship, therefore, was cautiously eased in closer to land; and finally was anchored about 100 yards off shore. From there it was possible to string a cable,- along which boatloads were hauled. Some of the wood was tied together in the form of rafts, and floated to the ship's side, to be hoisted aboard by derricks. At the end of a month's labour, 400 tons was aboard, which, according to exhaustive calculations, was sufficient to get Her to South America. The first officer, meanwhile, gathered all available canvas and tarpaujins from hatch covers, and sewed them together for sails, which were rigged to the masts and derricks. On October 7, the vessel steamed out. She was covered with camouflage paint, and every precaution was taken to avoid capture. She ran without lights at night. At sea, it was found that she was able to sail fairly well. They rode out rough weather. For nine days she proceeded under sail alone. In calm weather, she proceeded by steam, frequently changing course to avoid main shipping lanes. After 35 days' sailing, during which not a single ship was sighted, and the only connection with the outside world was by radio, they sighted the coast of Chile, having made 3319 miles under steam and 1507 under sail. All the ship's woodwork had been consumed for fuel, and drinking water and provisions were almost, exhausted.