TRANSPORT SUNK IN COLLISION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14286, 1 May 1917, Page 3

TRANSPORT SUNK IN COLLISION

615 NATIVES FROM'SOUTH AFRICA

LOST.

LONDON, March 9. The Prime Minister of the Union of v South Africa made the following 1 abatement: •

It is with deep regret that I have to announce to the House that the transpoitb Mendi, carrying the last batch of South African Native Labor Contingent — thfcjrest have been safely landed in France— came into collision with another vessel during passage from the United Kingdom to Havre and sank within 26 minutes. The collision took place 12 miles' from ithe Isle of Wight on Wednesday, February 21, at 4.57 a,mJ The escort's searchlight was ineffective owing to thick fog, but survivors were picked up by various vessels. Tw» European officers, ten European wottcommissioned officers, and 191 natives have been saved. One European noncommissioned officer and. eight natives, thofigk apparently rescue^, are reported to Have died as a result of accident, and three European officers, six European, noncommissioned officers, and 607 natives,' who until yesterdays were nn»e«counted for, must be presumed to have beeh ■ drowned, the total loss thua bpm ten Europeans and 615 natives, or 625 lives in all.