THE PITILESS SUBMARINE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16593, 17 January 1916, Page 5

THE PITILESS SUBMARINE.

CLAN MACFARLANE'S FATE. A TERRIBLE STORY. LEFT TO THE~MIERCY OF THE WAVES. LONDON, January 15. (Received Jan. 16, at 5.5 p.m.) The Clan Macfarlane was torpedoed without warning in a heavy sea. She did not see her attacker until the crew, realising that the ship was doomed, took to the boats, when the submarine appeared on the surface and asked Captain Swanston his name and nationality, and other details concerning the vessel. The submarine commander seemed a bundle of nerves, and showed great restlessness and uneasiness while the submarine was shelling the Clan Macfarlane to hasten her sinking. When this was accomplished the submarine disappeared, leaving 74 men to face death. Europeans and Lascars were tightly packed side by side in the boats, which, tied together, battled with the mountainous seas for three days. The rations were reduced to half a biscuit and half adipper of water twice daily. Two of the boats broke away on January 2 and were not seen again. Some of the Lascars and weaker men were by this time dying from exposure. Captain Swanston's boat broke loose on January 4, and drifted away, sharing the fate of the earlier boats. The three remaining boats became wateriogged, and the occupants, nearly dead from exposure and starvation, drifted helplessly. For three days and nights they were tossed hither and thither in the raging sea. Eleven more of the Lascars died, and the survivors, in an utter state of collapse, gave up all hope, but on January 7, after eight days of aSony, they attracted the notice of a British ship and were brought to Malta. The 24 survivors are now at the Seamen's Rest at Malta, little the worse for their experience.