WAR-TIME TRAVELLING

Marlborough Express, Volume LI, Issue 152, 29 June 1917, Page 6

WAR-TIME TRAVELLING

- . « — - - - ■ SOME OF, THE DANGERS

Sir Joseph Ward, interviewed at Auckland, stated that war conditions had rjji.de travelling to and from England Dv any route both difficult and dangerous. Both going and coming the vessels he had travelled on cross the ocean absolutely without lights. He described this as somewhat uncanny, as apart from submarine and floating mine dangers there was1 the addel'danger of collision. A vessel left the English port of departure after nightfall, and ordinary passengers did. not know until they were^ on board the name of the vessel on which they were to make the journey: •In''the majority of cases passengers :u-m told to gravel by _ some special train from a central railway station, and they do not- even know the port •of embarkation. Once on board they often remain- in port or put in thestream for several days, perhaps a week, and no communication.- is al-, Mowed with the shorej this.being done"; ,of rcourse to prevent ~ inifonnatioji? di;ifting tp the: enemy. . . ,! ~ T ■'•■"We. passed right thrbiigh the danger zone/ he continued, "and some idea of the real danger may bs gleaned from the fact that an 8000- j ton vessel which we passed the first day out at about noon going in the same direction-.sis' our'ship was tor-, pedoed :-hortly after, we passed her. Another phase. ,is that of lifebelts. Every passenger is compelled to wear a lifebelt throughout in© whole trip, across, and it is rather an interesting sight: to see passengers filing into the saloon for meals with lifebelts in their hands. They are carried about just in the samo way as a hat, and the passengers are never without their belt, and so danger is being constantly impressed upon them. Boats; are all swung out and ready to be immediately lowered. It will be understood therefore what precautions are being everywhere taken in regard to possible accident,' .;"■■■