Story Told Of Sinking Of U.S. Merchant Ship
iB.OAV.i RUGBY. April 23 When an American merchant ship was sank by enemy action in the Pacific last year. 1350 men were saved out of 1420 on board. The story oi this sinking and rescue has now been told. The shin was the San Juan. She was carrying soldiers, merchant seamen and navy gunners. Survivors were landed at Suva. Fiji, and Noumea. New Caledonia. When it became evident that the San Juan could not remain afloat, the captain gave orders to abandon ship. Many soldiers donned lifebelts and jumped overboard. All lifeboats and rafts were lowered and many of those in the water scrambled aboard. Sharks increased the peril, but with complete disregard for their safety, the crew of the San Juan repeatedly went overboard and rescued axhaustocl soldiers. The vessel sank after 40 hours.
A number of members of the crew and soldiers were killed by explosions. Two hundred remained aboard, keeping the vessel afloat, and f’.fili army officers, soldiers and crew in lifeboats that had remained near the scene were picked up by a destroyer and landed at Suva. A piano picked up 4tl men from the water and li ft floats to aid others. Then a Liberty ship came on the scene, rescued 443 men, and landed ir,can '• Noumea
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NA19440424.2.7
Bibliographic details
Northern Advocate, 24 April 1944, Page 2
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220Story Told Of Sinking Of U.S. Merchant Ship Northern Advocate, 24 April 1944, Page 2
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