RESCUE BY DESTROYERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 52, 1 March 1918, Page 8

RESCUE BY DESTROYERS

' COURAGE AND SKILL.

SUBMARINE DBIVEN OFF

LONDON, Feb. 10. The Associated Press correspondent telegraphing from a port in Ireland, *ays'that American officers eulogise the daring and seamanship displayed by British-' destroyers at the time the Tuscania was sunk. Many soldiers jumped into the sea when the Tuscama listed. More were preparing to follow, when a destroyer dashed up to the starboard side and took off hundreds of men. As she was departing another destroyer emerged fxom the darkness on the port side, which was now high out of the water. When the soldiers recovered from the surprise of this unexpected s ™-\ 1 ?; 1 manoeuvre they scrambled to reach the elevated port side. Many slid down the hull, some slipped down Dy means of ropes, others on their hands and knees. All this was done in the coolest possible manner. Those not taken off by the plucky destroyers, which risked sharing the Tuscania's fate, were later picked up by trawlers, which swarmed to the scene. The Americans said that the most impressive thing of the whole experience was the promptitude and precision with -which the British naval men handled their craft. They had just begun rescue work when the most exciting moment of the night occurred—a submarine in a few minutes discharging . three torpedoes at the destroyers. The , watchfulness of the lookouts, and the splendid seamanship foiled the attack and all the destroyers immediately counter-attacked with guns and bombs so effectively that if the submarine was not sunk, it was afraid to reappear.