CHASED BY U-BOAT

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 December 1939, Page 8

CHASED BY U-BOAT

PASSENGERS TELL STORY [per press association.] AUCKLAND, December 6. To have been chased by a submarine for more than half an hour in mid-Atlantic, 900 miles from land and 1300 miles from the nearest ship, was the exciting and unnerving experience one afternoon last month of passengers on a British ship which has' reached Auckland. The submarine was sighted about three miles away, and the ship’s course was immediately altered to bring the stern guns to bear. No shots were fired, and it is believed that the vessel escaped because, the submarine’s engines failed. According to passengers it was a tropical afternoon, and many were below sleeping. About three persons appear to have sighted the submarine about the same time, which suggests that it had just come to the surface. It lay parallel with the ship on the port beam, and was partially obscured in the glare of the sun. As the ship swung away word immediately went round, and within a few moments there was a full gallery on the afterdeck watching the gun crew, under the first officer, preparing for action. At least 30 passengers watched the submarine through binoculars, and distinctly saw a man in the conning tower. They saw the wash of the waves as the submarine raced through them; but did not actually see any distinguishing mark or nationality. For about a quarter of an hour the submarine appeared to gain on the vessel as it steamed at about 14 knots. For a time the two seemed to be making the same pace. Then the passenger ship appeared to draw away. The submarine was soon out of sight ovei’ the horizon.

While the chase was on, a puff of dark smoke issued from the submarine.. Some who saw it considered it was caused by a shot having been fired. However, a shell was not heard, nor was any splash on the water near the ship observed. The leading seaman, who was at the helm when thei first order was given after the submarine was sighted, said the officers believed the smoke announced that the engines had failed, and that was why the U-boat fell astern so rapidly. The captain and officers paid a tribute to the spirit- of thel passengers. One woman admitted that she was “dead scared” and had been since the ship left England, the fear of submarines never having left. A girl passenger seemed to be bored by the whole affair and called her mother for afternoon tea while the chase was in full progress.