HO PANIC ABOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15833, 2 February 1915, Page 7

HO PANIC ABOARD.

BOATS QUICKLY MANNED. FRENCH TRAWLERS' RESCUE, ANOTHER STEAMER SUNK. (Received February 1. 11 p.m.i Lospoy, February 1The Tokomaru was practically stationary, and lookine for a pilot. when she was torpedoed. The crewwere finishing their breakfast. The explosion resulted in a heavy list to port. Everyone was in the boats within 15 minutes. Meanwhile three French trawlers appeared.

When the boats left the Tokomaru she ; nd her stern above water. The forward decks were awash. She slid gently to the bottom in a vertical position. The trawlers took the crew to Havre, where they heard that two other cargo steamers had been torpedoed. One of the steamers was sunk and the other brought to Havre with decks awash. Daniel Grinders, one of the crew of the Tokomaru. states that he was forward in the refrigerating- engineroom at nine o'clock on Saturday morning when he heard a terrific explosion. apparently underneath the place where he was standing. The shock shifted the engine from its bed-plates, and a great volume of water flooded the engineroom from above. The ship heeled over to port. When he reached the deck the hands were getting out the portside boats. There was no panic. He saw no sign of a submarine, thoutrh the third officer previously paw a periscope. Few of the crew had any clothes when they landed except the vests and trousers they were wearing

The sea was cairn, and the boats were able to stand by while the ship was heeling over. Captain Green was the last to leave. The shock deranged the wireless apparatus, and the operator received several fho. while sending S.O.S. signals, but got in touch with the steamer Asturias.