POLISH INGENUITY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 210, 3 August 1940, Page 7

POLISH INGENUITY.

SHIP ELUDES GERMANS. Received August 3, 9.40 a.m. (British .Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Aug. 2. Another Polish merchant ship has been preserved for further service in the Allied cause through the determination and skill of its officers and crew. The 1564 ton Polish steamer Kroman was lying at Dakar, (French West Africa) having been immobilised by the removal of a vital part of machinery. One day last week the captain discovered that a number of Germans v ho had arrived at Dakar by air were planning to seize the ship. He determined to attempt to break out cf the harbour’and prevent the snip falling into enemy hands: By imoyov.sation and engineering skill, the Kroman’s engines were made to work, ani the ship escaped through the harbour defences.

On reaching the open .-en a cruise was set for a British port. All this was accomplished, although there were no charts on board. . . The Kroman is now; safe in a British port and the captain has been personally congratulated by the naval authorities on the courage, engineering skill, and fine seamanship displayed by him and his crew.

The escape of the Kroman calls to mind the valorous action of the crew of tho Polish submarine Orzel earlier in the war. After the occupation of Poland, the vessel eluded the enemy, only to be seized and interned in the Esthonian port of Tallinn. Her charts and principal navigating instruments were removed, but in the dead of night the crew cast off, avoided waiting warships, and by dint of amazing seamanship made the passage of the Baltic and eventually' reached England. The Orzel subsequently served with the Royal Navy, sinking a German transport, but was later lost.