DUTCH VESSEL SAVED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 85, 8 March 1940, Page 7

DUTCH VESSEL SAVED.

HEADING INTO MINEFIELD. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 7. The 8000-ton Dutch merchant vessel Stadshiedam was saved from destruction by mines on Tuesday in the North ‘Sea. Aircraft of the Coastal Command leaving ou a long patrol sighted drifting mines and reported their position f>y wireless. A minute or two after locating the mines the pilot observed Lhe Studiesdam steaming into danger. The mines lay directly in her path. Flying over the Dutch ship the pilot flashed a warning by a lamp and told her to heave-to or alter her course at once. Again and again ho went round the vessel in tight circles repeating the warning and orders. The Stadshiedam paid no heed and continued on the same course. Obviously the signals had not been understood. Only a short distance now separated the ship from the mines. fn the pilot’s phrase: “The position was becoming desperate.” He next fired a number of coloured lights into the sea immediately ahead of the Stadshiedam, hoping the crew would realise their imminent peril. Still the vessel did not change course. When the Stadshiedam was close to one of the mines the aircraft pilot took other measures. From close quar ters he opened fire with his front machine gun across her hows. These tactics were successful. At once the Stadshiedam swung hard to port away from the danger which was immediately confronting her. But the Dutch crew remained unaware of their narrow escape until a British naval vessel was called and destroyed the minus.