Missionaries’ Experience

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 191, 13 August 1941, Page 4

Missionaries’ Experience

PASSENGERS ON SHELLED LINER Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Aug. 12. Because of fihe misfortunes of war, the journey from Liverpool to India begun by two Irish missionaries last March was still far from completed when they reached Auckland by the California Clipper. The travellers are Fathers A. Maloney and M. Fox, of the Redemptorist Order, who arc returning to the East after an extended furlough. The missionaries left for India by way of South Africa in the liner Brittannia. Off the coast of West Africa the ship was attacked by a German raider, and after a running fight lasting about an hour, the Britannia suffered so much damage that the captain decided to heave to. The raider gave the passengers and crew time to enter the lifeboats and the Britannia was then shelled and sunk. Compared with the fate of the others, Fathers Maloney and Fox escaped lightly. After three days in an open 'boat, they were picked up by the *Shaw, Savill and Albion steamer Karanga and later landed at Buenos Aires. Those in auother lifeboat were 23 days at sea before they reached the Brazilian coast, 44 persons in the overcrowded craft dying in the interval. What happened to the other lifeboats is not known to the missionaries. After waiting seven weeks in Buenos Aires the missionaries were able to proceed to the United States. On reaching the Pacific coast they tried in vain to get a direct steamer or air passages to the East and eventually had to sot out on a longer air route by way of Australia and New Zealand.