Raider Victims’ Experiences

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 2, 3 January 1941, Page 7

Raider Victims’ Experiences

Rangitane Resists Shelling KOMATA HIT EIGHT TIMES United Press Association—By Electrlo Tel egraph—Co pyr lgh t. SYDNEY, Jan. S. Describing the sinking of tho Rangitane, a survivor said that suspicious vessels were sighted on the night of November 26. Almost as soon as the wireless operator had been ordered to send a message to this effect two of the raiders opened fire. There were more than 100 passengers aboard the Rangitane. Enemy searchlights played on her, and she was severely shelled. There were casualties, but no panic among the passengers. Fires were started. “We were taking water pretty fast, and 12 boats were lowered,” continued the survivor. “Two had been damaged. Eventually the prisoners were taken aboard each of the raiders. The Rangitane resisted the shelling and heeled over only after time bombs had been placed aboard.” •‘A Sitting Shot.” Captain Fish, commander of the Komata, in an interview, said that the raider Manyo Maru, which got his ship, had “a sitting shot” from a mile and ahalf away. “My wireless operator sent out an SOS,” he said. “I decided to make a run for it, but within a few minutes the Komata was hit eight t : mes, six amidship, once forward and once on the boatdeck. The chief officer was killed instantly. The second mate was seriously wounded and died next day aboard the raider. I was rendered unconscious for some time. A lifeboat was launched, after which a party from the raider arrived and ordered 13 of the crew of the Komata back to the raider. “We were imprisoned in a cabin eight by eight, but were treated courteously and made to feel as comfortable a 3 possible Wicked-LookVig Raiders “On the same day the raider sunk the Vinni, Triadic and Triaster, prisoners fr.om these boats being transferred to the second raider, which was painted grey, but unnamed. Both were well armed and' wicked-looking. Our prisonship had an entirely German crew, and was provisioned from a storeship named the Tokyo Maru. “We were aboard the raider 13 days before landing at Emirau. Our food was not good, yet nutritious. A young German doctor visited us daily and attended to our wounds. Only two Europeans and 3000 natives inhabited Emirau, where we were provided for as well as could be expected. Survivors from another ship were landed on the same island from the Tokyo Maru about the same time as ourselves. “The chief officer of the Vinni, also Chief Officer Collitt of the Rangitane managed to reach Kavieng on December 22, where they sought assist*nop. which ww not lone delayed.” Stay on Prison Ship “One captain kept a diary of his stay on the prison ship after his capture. He said that one German ship carried a complete recording plant and used it to record the prisoners' comments for propaganda purposes. “The Holmwood was attacked by three enemy ships,” he continued. “Two had Japanese names, but one was identified as the German vessel Kulnerland. Before the Holmwood went down the women, children and ship’s crew were transferred to one of the raiders. “On November 27, the alarm sounded and the big guns forward began firing. An officer told me that the Rangitane had been taken. The Rangitane’s captain and officers were berthed with us. I learned that 12 or 13 lives had been lost in the shelling of their ship. Two days later the women and children from the Rangitane and Holmwood were transferred to another raider and replaced by 40 members of the Rangitane’s crew. Six days later the Holmwood was shelled, the Germans said that before the crews would be released they would have to sign a declaration acknowledging that the penalty would bo death if they were taken prisoner on an armed vessel again during the war. A gramophone record was made of the question and answers about the cargo seized from the Holmwood, Rangitane and conditions on the prison ship.”

Officer Victim Buried at Sea

GERMANS ARRANGE FITTING SERVICE Received Thursday, 7.30 p.m. SYDNEY, Jan. 2. Second Officer Lloyd Hughes, of the Komata, who died of injuries received when the ship was shelled, was buried at sea with full honours. This was ro--1 lated by Captain W. W. Fish, who suffered shrapnel wounds in the leg. He said: “A German doctor operated on Mr. Hughes, but I was told later that he had no chance of living. They allowed me to be with him when he died. The captain of the raider asked me if I would like to bury Mr. Hughes at sea and 1 told him I would. * 1 There was no Australian flag aboard, but the Germans made one by adapting the Red Ensign. The members of my ship lined the flag-draped body and the Germans formed a guard of honour. I then read the burial service and the Nazi flag was flown halfmast. Afterwards the captain shook hands with us and said he was sorry Mr. Hughes and the mate had been killed. He said one day the war would be over and he hoped we would meet again as friends. ” Among the officers now in Melbourne are: Chief Officer F. W. Hopkins of the Rangitane, Chief Engineer Angus Macdonald of the Komata, and Captain J. 11. Miller of the Holmwood. The largest of the raiders was about 8000 tons and it still has 200 British captives aboard.