DAMAGED IN A FOG.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17982, 26 December 1918, Page 6

DAMAGED IN A FOG.

MISHAP TO BATTLE CRUISER AUSTRALIA.

Though all on board the Australia remained perfectly calm ' when the Commonwealth bnttle-crui.;er collided with trie New Zealand in the North Sea on April 14, 1916, the incident was a thrilling one, and was followed by intense drisappomfcment on board the Australia, which was in dock Inr seme weeks afterwards and was thus prevented from taking part in the Jutland battle on May 31. 1916. Some of the circumstances of the occurrence are graphically described by Mr Robert M'Carroll, of Bowen .Street, O'tldoHi (states the Melbourne " Herald "), who was an able seaman on the Australia at the time of the collision.

"We were steaming at eighteen knots in the North Sea, and the noticeboard said that we were going to make a raid an Guxhaven," he says. "Wo had joined the First Battle-crui-or Squadron, when a thick fog cnirm up. About 4.30 or 5 p.m. I was having a wash, when the ship shook from head to stern. I thought .we had struck a mine. I rushed to {-he afterdec];, and heard somebody say. ' We've cut her, in two.' I then thought that we had run down n destroyer, and on looking over the side to see what had happened I noticed that we had a big list to port. The quartermaster piped. 'Close watertight doors,' and we all ran to the collision stations immediately.

"The carpenters worked for their lives. Within four minutes of the fi>st smacjc, which the Australia, (got. on the bow, the New Zealand Came out of the fog again, still stcaminn; At about eirrhteen knots and bcnlirisr straight for 'is. Rhe struck the Australia again, this time in the starboard waist, horinr a hole three feet in width by about fire, feet or six feet in lenprth, awnv our net-booms. We turned around, and n"der our own steam made for Oneen's Ferry. " Next morning I had r. trlimp.se of the damage dene. ' ! ''c V>"vs ; inr>ss ddc was bent iro as high as the tehks. and p ; P"s Admiral's dnv cabin was nil 5 !. the side of the how was smashed to a pulp, the ram was broken and the hawse pines were bumped out. The men took it nnrl were much amused at n. r toker. who sM- on ton of a turret, and when the New Zealand struek us the second time called out at the top of his voice, ' Anzao. yon can't push the Wallaby Navv over.' "We arrived in the' Fi'-fV of For+b on th" Punday at 4 p.m.. and at 7 a.m. on Mnndav we went into dock at Newcastle."