WEEK-END GALE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22941, 20 January 1938, Page 11

WEEK-END GALE

BEITAIN LASHED DEATHS AND DESTRUCTION ATLANTIC SHIPS SUFFER By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright British Wireless RUGBY, Jan. 18 The toll of life on land and sea in the gale at the end of last week exceeded 30. Defences against the sea were washed away in the night at Aberystwyth, and further serious damage was done to houses on the promenade. Exceptionally high spring tides caused flooding in many coastal towns and river estuaries.

Watchers were on duty along the Thames all night for the spring tide, which was the highest since 1928, owing to tho piling up of water in the estuary by the gale. The river, liowr ever, remained confined within its hanks.

The destroyer Wolverine, which went to tho assistance in the Atlantic of the 11,000-ton Royal Fleet auxiliary oiler, War Bahadua, which had her bridge, wireless nerial and boats swept away escorted the oiler into Plymouth Sound. There were no casualties.

The War Bahadua was navigated for 300 miles from tho engine-room and made Plymouth under her own steam. Her master said that they were lucky to be alive, after five days in tremendous straits, with little or no sleep. Tho Aquitania, which was duo at Southampton from New York to-day, has been delayed by heavy weather in tlio Atlantic.

DISTRESS CALL SEQUEL NEW YORK, Jan. 18 The liner President Roosevelt intercepted a radio message from tho British freighter Cragpool, which sent out a distress call yesterday. The intercepted message said: "Okay. Proceeding."