"HELL SHIP"

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24297, 14 May 1940, Page 11

"HELL SHIP"

ORDEAL ON ALTMARK CONFINED BELOW WATERLINE NEW ZEALAND SEAMEN'S STORY (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, May 13. "It was a hell ship, ruled by a vicious bully. The three months on the Altmark seemed like three.years, was the opinion expressed to*day by three New Zealanders who were among the 326 merchant seamen rescued by the British destroyer Cossack from the German prison ship. The three men are J. Lynch, of Onehunga. a member of the staff of the Auckland Star: W. Wheeler, _of Frederick street, Dunedin; and Ray Craig, of Heme Bay, Auckland. They told a picturesque story on their return to-day. They left Auckland on the Doric Star in October, Lynch being a i gunner, and the others seamen gunners. They sighted the Graf Spee and the battleship fired two shots. A launch came alongside and ordered the ship's company to get plates, blankets and cutlery before being taken aboard the Graf Spee and later transferred to a "neutral" tanker. While they were having baths and passing the doctor on the Graf Spee the battleship sank the Doric Star by dynamite, gunfire and torpedo. " There was no sign of anger on the faces of the German crew when they saw us," said one. "We found no illfeeling. The oldest of the crew did not seem to be more than 22." Next morning the prisoners—49 in number—were awakened by gunfire, and later 10 members of the Tairoa's crew were added to their number. The prisoners were allowed privileges aboard the battleship until December 6, when they contacted the Altmark, and were transferred to that vessel. Greeted by a German officer and an armed guard, they were split up and put down into the magazine chambers. Thus their long imprisonment, with hardship, began. "We were four decks down and 35ft below the waterline," said one. "The chief complaints were the issue of putrid rye bread and also only two small cakes of soap to each man over the three months, while a pint and ahalf of water issued for washing purposes and had to be poured back into the drum and used over again. The shortage of tobacco was keenly felt. The prisoners had no knowledge whether the ship called at any ports, because she was always stopping and starting. ~ , , "We could not believe the good news when we heard the raiding party from the Cossack," said one. All had a wonderful time in England. Wheeler twice broadcast from the 8.8. C. and appeared at several theatres in connection with the appeal for woollen clothing for the army and navy.