VIVID ACCOUNT OF DISASTER

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24147, 13 December 1941, Page 11

VIVID ACCOUNT OF DISASTER

hoped to surprise enemy transports By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Beceived December 12. 10.50 p.m.) SINGAPORE, Dec. 11 When the Eastern Fleet left Singapore on its fateful voyage last Tuesday the message of the Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Sir Tom Phillips, to the fleet was: "We are out looking for trouble, and no doubt we'll find it. We hope to surprise enemy transports to-morrow at dawn, and we may meet a Japanese battleship. I am sure everybody will give a good account of himself." The story of that disastrous voyage is now being pieced together in Singapore from the accounts of survivors. The ships steamed northward along the Malayan east coast until dusk, and then retraced their course because they had been sighted by reconnaissance planes, but later they turned north again. About 1 1 a.m. on Wednesday enemy aircraft was sighted, and then the order "Action stations" was given. Eight planes were seen flying at 17,000 ft. Bombs from the aircraft straddled both ships, and both were hit. A fire broke out in the Repulse and continued until the ship sank. All the ships put up an anti-aircraft barrage and one Japanese plane was brought down. Repulse Avoided 19 Torpedoes There was a brief lull, in which the Prince of Wales was seen to be listing. Then more planes arrived and swept daringly across the paths of the battleships. The Repulse avoided the danger, but the Prince of Wales appeared to be hit at the stern and one of her four propellors was put out of action. Her after armament was affected and she appeared to be unmanageable. The Prince of Wales asked the Repulse: "Are you damaged?" and she replied: "I have avoided 19 torpedoes up to now, thanks to Providence." Aircraft launched a third attack from a high level, and there were several near misses. Then, in the fourth and final attack, I aircraft came in from all angles. The Repulse received a hit at the bow, and then a few seconds later she was hit at the stern. At this' moment her guns accounted for two Japanese planes. The Repulse settled lower in the water, lurched and shuddered. Her captain ordered all hands on deck. Then he gave the order: "Prepare to abandon ship. Every man for himself! God be with you I" Sixty Men Crowded on Carley Raft The Repulse turned on her beam ends. Men ran down her sides in hundreds and jumped into the sea, which was covered with four inches of oil fuel, and clung to rafts, pieces of wood and any other thing that was floating.

Meanwhile the Prince of Wales was listing badly, four miles distant, and was an easy victim. She was belching smoke, though there were no flames. Eyewitnesses said she slowly turned over and settled, but did' not sink for some time. Men could be seen standing on her keel. Then she disappeared, and there were hundreds of heads bobbing in the water. Men were clinging to every imaginable object. On one Carley float there were 60 men singing "Tipperary," in a crush so thick that they were standing bolt upright supported by their neighbours. One midshipman had a hole in his side in which a fist would fit, but ie did not murmur. There were men with all sorts of wounds, yet there was no panic and no complaint. Destroyers came in, picked up the men and brought them to Singapore. The people of Edinburgh are to bear the burden of the cost of H.M.S. Howe, to be a sister-ship of the Prince of Wales, and will also replace the Repulse. Over £2,000,000 has already been raised.