SUBMARINE SUNK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23479, 17 October 1939, Page 8

SUBMARINE SUNK

DESTROYER IN ACTION LINER PASSENGERS WATCH DEPTH CHARGE EXPLOSIONS AUCKLAND RESIDENT'S STORY To sco an escorting destroyer sink a submarine by depth . charges only four hours after they had left port was the experience of passengers ou a largo linor which crossed tlio Atlantic to Canada, less than a fortnight after war was declared. Among the passengers wero Mr. and Mrs. W. Patterson, of Auckland, who have returned after a holiday visit to Britain. Mr. Patterson, said last night that when tlio ship sailed for Canada she was completely blacked out and carried a largo naval gun as well as ail anti-aircraft gun. Beforo leaving port she was joined by another largo liner and two destroyers. "Wo certainly felt much safer with one of thoso .fast destroyers on each sido of tho liners," said Mr. Patterson. "But about four hours out from port tho excitement started. I was on deck about 7 p.m. when a submarine was sighted. The destroyer on our port side turned round very quickly, and chased tho submarine. Wo could see her slow down and drop three depth charges. Dash for Boats "The efFect of these three explosions on tho linor was terrific. Tho ship vibrated and many passengers, some of whom wcro dining, thought tvo had been struck by a torpedo. They made a dash for tlio boats with their lifebelts. "Wo had about 130 survivors of tho Athenia on board, making their second attempt to got homo," continued Mr. Patterson; "Most of them thought they had been torpedoed a second time. Tlio destroyer reported, however, that she had sunk tho submarine as a largo amount of oil was seen on top of tho water beforo she left tho spot to come alongsido us again." Aeroplane Flies Over Ship Mr. Patterson said tho destroyer left at daylight next morning. Tlio liner continued alone at a speed of about 22 knots with all the lifeboats swung out over tho sido ready for any emergency. "Everything went well until that afternoon when we wero out in tho Atlantic," continued Mr. Patterson. "A large aeroplane appeared coming, toward tho liner's ,stern. It flew over the ship and then turned and flew over tlio gun crew aft. The gunners trained the gun on tho machine which had a crew of three and carried machine-guns and bombs. "After flying over tho ship three times, tlio airmen signalled to tho gunners not to firo. Then they signalled to tho bridge asking who wo were and where we wero bound. When they got our answer, they dipped their wing and made off toward land, much to our relief. ' "Not until they dipped their wing did wo know it was a friendly machine," added Mr. Patterson. "Until wo tolcl them who wo wore they did not know wo wero British. Seeing our guns they probably thought wo were an armed raider, as wo were flying no flags, and tho ship was painted all grey." Tension Not Relaxed Mr. Patterson said tho remainder of tho trip to Canada was quito peaceful, but the tension was not relaxed as many of the passengers, particularly tho Athenia survivors, never, undressed and carried their lifebelts around with them. There was nothing much for peoplo to do except sit in the lounge and look at each other. Tho gun crews were always .on duty. One gun was tested by firing it at an iceberg when the liner approached the Canadian coast. During the train journey across Canada Sir. Patterson noticed that ever/ bridge and culvert from Montreal to Vancouver was guarded by soldiers. This was a precaution against sabotage. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson wero in London when war was declared and a few days later left by car for tho Midlands. Mr. Patterson praised tho way in which children wero evacuated from London. Ho said the complete evacuation took onlv three days and was carried out without a hitch.