CHARGES SHIP THROUGH EXPLOSIVES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14647, 3 July 1918, Page 3

CHARGES SHIP THROUGH EXPLOSIVES.

TO CUT RESCUE .LANES,

WASHINGTON, Maw 26. , Stories of the heroic daring of American naval officers and men 1 m rescuing thirty-four of the seventy-five members of the crew of the American munitions ship Florence H., which caught fire and broke m two m French waters last April 17, are told m a report of Rear- Admiral Wilson, commanding American naval forces m France. ,

Lieutenant H. S. Haislip, of San *rancmco; who, at the risk of detonating his depth charges and destroying hrn vessel, promptly charged his destroyer through the mass of biasing and exploding wreckage covering the water m which survivors were struggling, is recommended for commendation. Gunner's Mate F. M. Upton, of Denver, Col., andt Ship's Cook J. W. Covington, of Durant, Okla., ar© recommended for Congressional medals of honor, and gold lifesaving medals. They leaped into the sea and rescuedi a man who, exhausted was m the midst of exploding powder boxes. ■ ■■ .■ ■ '

Six. officers who commanded life rand motor boats which entered the wreckage to rescue men who were beingf badli' burned about the heads and arms, and two surgeons and a chaplain and fortyeight seamen who were with them, aro mentioned for commendation. Admiral Wilson, m describing the situation, said:— "The sea to the leeward' of the wreck was covered by a mass of boxes of smokeless powder, which was repeatedly exploding,, and! among this wreckage* were a number of survivors. The wreckage was so thick that small boats were unable to reach these men. The heat from the burning vessel m the vicinity was so intense that the converted yachts present, with wooden upperworks, could not safely penetrate th,e wreckage. Under these conditions Lieutenant Haislip took his vessel at high speed, into the .midst of the wreckage, at considerable risk of detonating ,the depth charges carried ;on his vessel, and made lanes through which the small boats towed by his and other vessels could reach the survivors-.. The dash, initiative and courage shown by Lieutenant Haislip on this occasion are m accord' with the best traditions of our service, and it is recommended that he be commended by the NavyDepartment." .

The , French Vice'Adnural commandingthe district, m commending Lieutenant Haislip, said he gave "proof of a superb contempt of danger and ' remarkable* qualities of seamanship." Admiral Wilson issued a special order lauding the rescuers, officers, and men, and saying that due to their prompt and gallant action it appeared that all who were not? killed jn .the flames of the Florenca H, were rescued.