An Accidental Visit.

Samoanische Zeitung, Volume 19, Issue 35, 30 August 1919, Page 3 (Supplement)

An Accidental Visit.

PRINZESSIN AT APIA. Early on Wednesday evening a large steamer was sighted off Apia and rumour gained ground to the effect that it was the Prinzessin, with a serious case of sickness on board and that it was desired to land one of the crew for immediate operation, Confimation of the rumour turned out to be correct when the Priuzessin came into port on Thursday morning about fl a.m. It tranpires that the vessel had been in wireless communication concerning the serious case ou board. We have been able to crather some very interesting details. The' Priuzessin, Commander Neagle, R.N., in charge, is under Admiralty orders to proceed to Vancouver, and then on to the Far East. She is of 6937 gross tonnage, and is one of the recently-owned German vessels handed over

to great Britain on the signing of the Armistice. Before the War she was in the East African trade under the North German Lloyd Co. Her use during the past three months has been transporting Australian troops and after disembarking at Sydney, was requisitioned to bring home to New Zealand the stranded New Zealanders in Sydney, as a consequence of the strikes. However, the Priuzessin returned to' Sydney and left about 10 days ago to proceed direct to Vancouver. Her visit here, accidental as it was, was decided on, when about seven days out, owing to the fourth engineer, Mr. H. J. Mansell, being seized with acute appendicitis. On the recommendation of the surgeou ou board—an urgent operation being necessary —the commander steered his vessel 300 miles off her course to reach Apia. The Prinzessiu had about 80 to too first and second saloon passengers on board. She carries no cargo. The purser of the ship is Brigadier-General Wilson a son of General Sir Henry Fuller Wilson, K.C.8., K.C. M.G. - who is terribly cut up and wounded as the result of a bursting shell at the front. Another interesting personage on board is Dr. Valentine, Chief of the Health Department in New Zealand, who in company with his little daughter, is proceeding to England. The Prinzessiu had intended coming iuto harbour on Wednesday evening and signalled for the pilot. The pilot answered the call, but in the absence cf leading lights and channel lights, did

not care to risk on such a a dark night, the safety of the ship. Discretion was"the better part of valour, hence the Priuzessin hung off till the following morning. The new harbour lights which were expected by. the last Talune, did not arrive. After landing the indisposed fourth engineer, who is now in the Goverment hospital at Motootua, the Priuzessin departed about midday direct for Vancouver. Acting-Pilot Capt. C. O. Anderson, was the recipient of a splendid testimony from the Commander for the verv able manner in which he piloted the vessel in and ont of Apia.

We learn on going to Press, that Mr. Mausell underwent an operation on Thursday evening and is progressing as well as can be expected.