THE SEVEN SEAS

Southland Times, Issue 19458, 24 January 1925, Page 5

THE SEVEN SEAS

PROMINENT SAILOR RETIRES. FORTY YEARS OF SERVICE. CAREER OF SIR BERTRAM FOX HAYES. |* (Special to the Times.) ' WELLINGTON, January 23. When the world’s largest ship, the liner Majestic, of 54,000 tons, berthed at Liverpool on Christmas Day, her master, Sir Bertram Fox Hayes, K.C.M.G., D. 5.0., R.D., R.N.R., hauled down his flag and stepped ashore to take up farming on the Surrey Downs. An interesting seagoing career, which had its links with New Zealand in the early nineties and in the war years, and after, was thereby closed. Sir Bertram Fox Hayes was an uncommunicative man, and interviewers never had any success with him. Biographers associated with the famous White Star Line tried for years, without success, to elicit answers from him to a score of questions asked by the Press. On his last voyage to New York, where he arrived on December 18, he was besieged with reporters asking for a final mesage from a man who had been a “cabby of the seven seas” for 40 years. NO SOB STORY. When the newspaper men repeated what they had learned of his record, Sir Bertram said: “I guess you have the story.” “Did not the Olympic run down a submarine?”—“Yes, that is true. “When was that, captain?”—“l really forget the date.” 1 “What speed was the Olympic doing?”— “Oh, possibly 22 knots.” “What happened to the submarine?”— “I don’t remember. I don’t think she remained afloat.” Sir Bertram, who was leaning against his desk in his cabin, glanced at the clock. “Gentlemen,” he said firmly, “I don’t like to talk about myself. Say simply that I have had the confidence of those by whom I was employed, those under me, and tho passengers who travelled with me. Please don’t write any of this sob stuff.” IN PEACE AND WAR. In the years of peace and war, Sir Bertram Fox Hayes visited many countries. He sailed out of Liverpool on his first cruise on a “square-rigger” as an apprentice boy. Three years later he was fourth officer on the Coptic, plying between San Francisco and New Zealand. Then followed many assignments, in which he travelled many oceans and had many experiences. Perhaps the most thrilling experience was on May 12, 1918, when he sank two German submarines, although officially credited with but one. The liner sighted both at once, and fired at one, putting it out of action with a perfect hit. Skilfully manoeuvring his vessel, the Olympic, he rammed the second. It sank without a trace, and therefore could not be counted a bull’s-eye in the game of war. .-Is master of the Britannic, he carried 37,000 troops to South Africa to the Boer Wax, and as master of the Olympic 200,000 American troops to France without the loss of a single life. Many Australian and New Zealand soldiers who came home via America sailed with him, and learned to respect the silent navigator, a typical product of the “Silent Service.” MUCH-PRIZED HONOUR. Sir Bertram Fox Hayes has one honour which he prizes greatly. Des Ha Leh, chief of the Six Nation Indians of Canada, bestowed it on him for carrying him safely to England and back when he called on the King. He was made chief of the Cayuma tribe with the name Tah Nya Di Yes, which means: “A man who passes great waters.”