U.S. LINER WEDGED ON REEF; ALL SAFE

Northern Advocate, 13 December 1937, Page 5

U.S. LINER WEDGED ON REEF; ALL SAFE

SW DRAMAS

*f iited Press Association. —By Electric i Telegraph.—Copy right. ] ; (Received 10 a.m.) ; SAN FRANCISCO, December 11. j Wireless messages report that the i United States liner President Hoover , is wedged on a reef at Hoishoto j Island, off Formosa. i There were 500 passengers aboard at I the time the vessel went aground. The I German steamer Preussen, which re- I spohded to the President Hoover’s ; S.O.S. call, was standing by. The passengers were all safe ami not in any danger. The damage to the President Hoover ha.s not yet been determined. Advices by radio from Manila stale that the liner’s passengers were safe- j ly landed at Hoishoto Island at .1.30 j p.m. on Saturday. It was indicated, j however, that the rescue work was of j a difficult nature. i A message from the President Hoover I five minutes earlier requested all pos- ; sible salvage assistance. Pounded by Heavy Seas. , The liner President McKinley was expected to reach the stranded liner at 6 p.m. on Saturday. Salvage tugs were proceeding from Hongkong on Saturday night to take off the cargo. The President Hoover’s doctor is re- \ ported to be organising an emergency { hospital on the island. | Tokio advices state that the liner is j being pounded by heavy seas. A Japan- i cse cruiser rescued 200 of the passeng-1 ers. i

v. Helplessly Aground. Subsequent messages received from Manila stated that the President Hoover, “bumping heavily,” is helplessly aground, while passengers ai’e ashore on two small islands awaiting the appearance of rescue ships, several oi: which arc rushing to the scene, including three United States destroyers, also the Empress of Asia. Meanwhile, two Japanese warships are reported to be standing by.

According to one report, 200 passengers have been taken off by an Unnamed Japanese war vessel.

The disaster evidently was because the vessel took the “outside passage” down the eiast coast of Taiwan, through relatively unknown seas, for the purpose of regaining lost time, instead of the usual course on the west coast. Impossible to Tow Her Off. . The steamship Preussen wirelessed: “President Hoover in bad position r.orth-east side of Hoishoto Island. Rough sea.” The message added that soundings showed it was impossible to tow her off. Meanwhile, there are no details of the plight of the passengers.

However, the Preussen proceeded on her voyage, indicating that the

danger was not intense.

The salvage'vessels, Yosho, Maru, from Hongkong,. and the Neho Maru, from Noji, will leave to-day and are expected to be alongside the President Hoover on Tuesday. Rescue Work Difficult. The Dollar Line agent at Hongkong has been unable so far to communicate with the President Hoover to obtain details. Islanders are reported to be helping in the care of passengers. It is reported that high seas and winds made rescue work more difficult. Several of the liner’s holds- are flooded. However, there is no immediate danger of her sinking. Latest advices are that the passengers are reported to be comfortably installed in Schools and private houses in Kashoto Island. It is understood some salvagers were injured.