NAVAL WARFARE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 227, 23 August 1940, Page 5

NAVAL WARFARE

exciting experiences. LETTER FROM STOKER. Interesting sidelights on naval Service abroad are given by Stoker Desmond Price, son of .Mr W. A. Price, of 21 Princess Street, Palmerston North, in a letter to his father and other members of the family. Stoker Price’s ship has been in the war zone in the Near East and has had numerous exciting experiences on active service. Writing in stifling heat on July 19, .Stoker Price mentions that the temperature ranged from 110 to 120 degrees. He thanked his sister for knitting something for him and mentioned that when a heavy jersey sent to a shipmate came to hand all thought it was a huge joke. Stoker Price gave some further details of the sinking of an Italian submarine by the trawler Moonstone in the Red Sea. The trawler had been sent inshore and, when very near the coast in quite shallow water, a periscope appeared nearby. Tho Moonstone opened fire with her only gun and the submarine came to the surface to retaliate. A battle royal raged for a short time until the plucky little trawler scored a hit clean through tho conning tower, killing several ratings and the captain. The Italians then hoisted the white flag and were taken prisoner. The submarine was taken over by members of the crew of Stoker Price’s ship. . When the Moonstone returned to harbour all the ships cleared lower deck and gave three cheers foi tho crew. Since then submarine after submarine had been destroyed Stoker Price also tells of the capture of an Italian ship carrying explosives and says his ship was possibly the first British vessel to take Italian prisoners. They also destroyed by shell fire an Italian submarine that had been driven ashore by destroyers. At different times they had been targets for Italian bombers- but quick and accurate manoeuvring by the ship’s captain enabled the cruiser to escape the bombs which fell into the sea all around. It was thrilling while it lasted.