DARING RESCUE WORK

Evening Star, Issue 24296, 10 September 1942, Page 6

DARING RESCUE WORK

RAPID SPREAD OF FLAMES (Uec. 1.10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Sept. 9. The Navy Department said tbe rescue was effected in a thrilling and daring manner by warships protecting the convoy in which the Wakefield was travelling to an east coast port. A cruiser manoeuvred its bow athwart the transport’s stern and a destroyer went alongside the Wakefield. Thus the passengers wore transferred rapidly from the blazing liner. The captain and a skeleton crew remained aboard and fought the Haines as long ns possible, finally tugs brought the Wakefield to port. Survivors, describing tbe 20 minutes’ drama aboard the flame-swept ship, said the navy personnel of tbe cruiser and destroyer displayed exceptional bravery in effecting the rescue work swiftly and calmly. The fire spread in two or three minutes from end to end. The destroyer was thrown repeatedly against the Wakefield’s high sides, smashing her superstructure, but the captain of the destroyer held her in while the gun crow tossed shells overboard. Cargo nets were lowered and the passengers were transferred safely. One survivor said lie was sure many of the crew were burned, as the fire spread so amazingly on the 10-milHon-doilnr ship. Another survivor said he heard a muffled explosion far below the deck. Then the fire spread like a barn full of hay. The crew began tossing explosives overboard There was a tense moment when the officer on the bridge asked if the magazine had boon flooded. It was the first they knew of the magazine. The reply was “ Yes, flooded.”