STEAMER'S WAR SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17145, 26 April 1919, Page 8

STEAMER'S WAR SERVICE.

ESCAPES FROM SUBMARINES. ' DANGERS OF MEDITERRANEAN. \ [BY teleoeaph.—own OOBBJSSPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Friday. There berthed in Wellington this morning a steamer which has played a conspicuous part in the war for two years— the Union Company's Waimarino. Her first trip in the service of the Home authorities was from San Francisco to the United Kingdom with a load of flour. Captain P. J. Foster then had charge, but on arrival in England Captain J. Thompson, fresh from the torpedoing of the Waihemo, took charge, and has retained command ever since. From the United Kingdom the Waimarino has carried freight of all kinds to every part of the Mediterranean. The chief officer said this zone was a favourite hunting ground of the German, and many fine ships had been sent to the bottom. "The Germans," he said, "have done some dastardly things, bat we must give them credit for their organising ability. Thoir system of ascertaining the position of chips and convoys was wonderful." It was not to be imagined, however, that the Allied work was not as well, if not more efficiently carried out. Explaining the system adopted, the officer said that masters ana officers of various steamers which were to make up a convoy were summoned to a conference, and there the part each man was expected to play was fully explained. ' ' " You must remember," the naval officer i in charge would candidly say, that | you are working in a zone which, 's'so ( per cent, more dangerous than European waters, and if it should happen that you ' should get 'pipped,' for God's sake keep < together. Our main bus : ness is to settle i with the German gentlemen." I Lighting regulations were of course ab-. solutely strict, the chief officer continued. I : Pointing .to .a door, he showed a contri- | vance for the purpose of switching out i the lights as eoon as the door was opened. ) Shou'd a light be noticed anywhere on i a ship a rifle was fired off immediately with little regard for persons. Striking a match on deck at night was a grievous crime, punished by a heavy fine. The officer paid a high tribute to the men on the travelers, and admitted that had it not been for them they would have been blown to atoms on many occasions. The Wa : marino had many times been attacked by submarnes, but by a stroke of fortune was never damaged. The Waimarino iB the only vessel of the six "W Ships" to return to New Zea- | land to relate her adventures. The Wai- i kawa, Wailiomo, and Waitemata. were all J torpedoed in the war zone. The Wairuna : was captured bv the raider Wolf, and i the Waitoha was brrnt at sea. The Wai- i marino has officially been loaned to the > Union Company for one trip, but it is understood she will not sw further service with the Imperial Government.